Napoli sporting director Manna says club will act in January market amid injury crisis

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna said the club will look to make moves in the January transfer window, speaking to Sky Sport before a Champions League match, as reported by Corriere dello Sport. "We will work to do something in the market, we need to understand how we'll get there," Manna said, adding that any deals would respect the club's parameters "as always."

Manna said the only position where Napoli are not short is centre-forward, and that the squad currently numbers 24 players, "two per role, plus a few jokers." He said January is still far off but the club will be ready, aiming to optimise and improve what it already has rather than simply lengthening the squad.

On the injury situation, Manna said Napoli have also dealt with traumatic injuries, citing Badiashile's history, Buongiorno's unanticipated problem and Neres as more prone to issues. He said such things happen and are hitting Napoli more than others, but "it must not be an alibi."

Manna also discussed Kevin De Bruyne, deployed in the attacking midfield role, calling him an absolute-level player who can play anywhere and saying the position is more congenial to him than his historical one. He said the Champions League is still long but the match matters given a delicate moment, and that Napoli must give everything they have.