Manna: ‘Napoli strategy won’t change’ depending on Champions League

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 2:44 PM ET

Napoli director Giovanni Manna hopes Rasmus Hojlund can score again in Copenhagen, but Champions League progress ‘doesn’t change anything’ for their transfer strategy.

It kicks off at the Parken Stadium at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Inter vs. Arsenal on the Liveblog.

This is a must-win match in the Champions League, as both teams are on seven points and on the verge of dropping out of the top 24, which would see them eliminated from Europe early.

It is hoped that the Danish soil can inspire striker Hojlund, who is on familiar territory.

Manna expects great things from Napoli

CREMONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

“Hojlund is a great professional, so he’s happy to be back home, he scored twice here last season, we hope he does that again tonight,” Manna told Sky Sport Italia.

Lorenzo Lucca and Noa Lang are transfer-listed and therefore on the bench this evening, where Antonio Vergara and Eljif Elmas are preferred despite the injury crisis.

Considering Napoli have a transfer embargo forcing them to sell before they can buy, will staying in Europe affect their strategy?

“Going through to the next phase doesn’t change anything for our transfer market, but it is an objective we had set ourselves at the start of the season,” noted Manna.

NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Noa Lang of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“For the transfer window, we have certain limitations, we’re trying to do a few things to improve or at least expand the squad, seeing as we’re quite short at the moment.”

What areas are they going to focus on for new signings?

“We’re quite short-staffed in attack, as Politano and Neres are out, Lukaku is coming back, we hope to get Frank back over the weekend, and then we’ll see.”

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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