Meluso: ‘Napoli will replace Elmas in January’

Napoli director Mauro Meluso confirms the club ‘will replace’ Eljif Elmas in midfield during the January transfer window and discusses Walter Mazzarri’s impact on the squad.

Their match against Monza kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.30 GMT.

This is the final fixture of 2023 for the Partenopei, who have already agreed the sale of Elmas to RB Leipzig for €25m.

“We are working behind the scenes. Clearly, if a player leaves in a certain position, then we will replace him,” Meluso told DAZN.

“Elmas will be sold on January 2, so we will certainly make a move in midfield. As for the rest, the idea is to send a few young players out to play more regularly and replace them.”

Among the candidates for new arrivals in January are Pasquale Mazzocchi of Salernitana for the left wing.

This is said to be a request from new coach Mazarri, who took over from sacked Rudi Garcia in October and has only to a degree made a difference to their results.

“Mazzarri had a very positive impact on the squad, bringing his ideas, and he had very little time to get those across because when he arrived it was the break for international duty,” added director of sport Meluso.

“We also had a run of games, one after another, in the space of a few days. He had very little time to work on the tactical and physical issues, but I can see the squad is already eager to follow some of the corrections he has made.”

The reigning Serie A title holders have struggled this season and sit in seventh place, having lost four of their last six games.