Napoli Already Has a Plan in Place for Life After Anguissa
Napoli is beginning to plan for life after Anguissa, who could leave the club at the end of the season and will be free to negotiate with another club as early as January. To fill his shoes, Napoli’s management has reportedly set its sights on Darryl Bakola, an 18-year-old French midfielder currently playing for Sassuolo.
The young talent has already made nine appearances in Serie A this season, seven of them as a starter, earning the trust of Alberto Aquilani, who was fired Monday by Sassuolo. It remains to be seen whether the new coach will give him the same playing time. Meanwhile, Napoli is closely monitoring his development, viewing him as a potential reinforcement for the present and, above all, for the future of the midfield.
As for Anguissa, the Cameroonian midfielder’s contract with Napoli is set to expire, and he could leave the Azzurri on a free transfer next June. According to reports from Tuttosport, Beppe Marotta’s Inter Milan considers him the ideal fit to round out the midfield, with the qualities that Cristian Chivu has long been seeking: after all, the Nerazzurri have built a significant portion of their roster through free-agent signings.
Napoli, however, is not the only club interested in Bakola. Born in 2007 and having arrived in Italy after a stint at Marseille, the midfielder has long been on Juventus’ radar; the club may have an edge thanks to the presence on its board of Giovanni Carnevali, the former CEO of Sassuolo. Roma is also said to have made a move for the player, while several Premier League clubs have reportedly put him on their radar.
Sassuolo, for its part, has secured the young player with a long-term contract and does not seem willing to let him go easily: any negotiations will therefore have to contend with a very high asking price. Among Bakola’s strengths, his tactical versatility stands out, as he can play both as a central midfielder and in a more advanced position—a trait that makes him attractive to coaches who value players capable of filling multiple roles within the same match.
