Atalanta Transfer Market: Maurizio Sarri Speaks Out, but Napoli Comes to the Rescue

Atalanta Transfer News: The 0-0 home draw against Hapoel Tel Aviv was a significant indication of the Nerazzurri’s struggles, especially up front, and Maurizio Sarri didn’t mince words in his postgame comments. The problems are there, and it’s increasingly clear that reinforcements are needed. From this perspective, a helping hand for Atalanta’s new coach could come from a club that remains closely tied to his career: Napoli.

The position Atalanta would like to fill with some urgency is that of the left-wing forward—a role previously filled by Ademola Lookman, even in the 3-4-2-1 (or 3-4-3) formation so dear to Gian Piero Gasperini. The gap remained even under Sarri’s 4-3-3 system; in fact, in the Conference League, Sarri had to reposition Nicola Zalewski up front with Giacomo Raspadori on the opposite wing. Bergamo is therefore hoping for a new winger or at least an attacking midfielder who can operate on the left flank—qualities that Noa Lang embodies perfectly. And now the signing of the Dutchman from Napoli seems more feasible.

“We need to make some moves in the transfer market, especially since we have to deal with a few absences,” Sarri emphasized bluntly to ‘Sky Sport’ after the 0-0 draw in the Conference League. “We’re still a team under construction, which makes it difficult to define us as very strong, moderately strong, or potentially strong. We don’t yet have all the pieces in place to make that assessment.” Meanwhile, the long-awaited opening from Napoli regarding Noa Lang appears to have arrived: the Azzurri would like a loan with an obligation to buy, while Atalanta would prefer a simple option to buy. But the parties have come very close to an agreement, even setting the total fee for the deal at 27 million euros. But they need to act quickly, especially since Benfica and Galatasaray are lurking in the background.

The urgency is also driven by the fact that Napoli needs to cash in on Lang’s sale in order to reinvest in their attack. Massimiliano Allegri has set his sights on Gabriel Jesus, who is leaving Arsenal after being left out of the Community Shield match against Manchester City, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson: both deals, however, first require the roster to be trimmed, and Lang is the prime candidate to make room. Galatasaray remains in the running and has already submitted an initial offer of 15 million euros, deemed insufficient by the Neapolitan club—a circumstance that, paradoxically, brings Atalanta closer to the deal, as they are willing to go as high as the total figure of 27 million agreed upon in recent hours.

The relationship between Lang and Napoli, after all, had already deteriorated last season. In January, at the time of his loan to Galatasaray—structured as a 2–3 million deal with a buyout clause set at 25 million, which the Turks ultimately did not exercise—the Dutchman did not mince words when criticizing then-coach Antonio Conte: “I didn’t click with the coach; let’s just leave it at that,” he told ‘ESPN,’ adding that “one day, the whole truth will come out.” This clear rift had effectively burned bridges with the Neapolitan club even before the end of the season, and today makes a definitive split all but inevitable.

It must be said that Lang, during his time at Galatasaray, had nevertheless demonstrated his ability to make a difference at the highest levels. His two-goal performance against Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs last February was particularly telling: first, he tied the score at 2-2 by pouncing on a short rebound from Di Gregorio, then he made it 4-2 by capitalizing on a defensive blunder by the opposition, contributing decisively to Galatasaray’s 5-2 victory at Rams Park in Istanbul. His overall stats are modest—three assists in the league and that European two-goal performance in 19 total appearances—but they’re enough to remind Sarri of the qualities of a player who, in the right context, can prove to be a lethal weapon.

It’s not just Lang, though: Atalanta’s transfer needs aren’t limited to the offense. Thursday’s match also highlighted Dea’s defensive struggles, at least in terms of numbers, exacerbated by Scalvini’s ankle injury after just 26 minutes and the absences of Isak Hien — who isn’t expected to return until October — and Berat Djimsiti, who was transferred to Al-Diriyah after nine seasons and 334 appearances in the Nerazzurri colors. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is also working on this front: Sarri’s preferred target to bolster the back line is Alessio Romagnoli, whom the Tuscan coach previously coached during his time at Lazio. Time is running out on all fronts.