Serie A

Jurgen Klopp Joining AS Roma Would Boost All Italian Football

As the 2024/25 season comes to an end and clubs begin to turn their attention to summer changes, one news story this week stood out as Jurgen Klopp was linked with a move to AS Roma.

According to Italian newspaper La Stampa, the former Liverpool boss has agreed to take over from Claudio Ranieri who will be moving into a directorial role once the current campaign is over.

This past weekend saw Ranieri given an emotional send-off by Roma supporters before, during and after his final home game as manager amid scenes similar to those seen at Anfield last year.

Jurgen Klopp makes transfer suggestions
Now, according to that same report from Enrico Testa, Klopp is so keen to get back into coaching that he was making Roma aware of what he expected in terms of improvements to their current squad.

Singling out three key areas that he believes immediately need reinforcements, the German boss reportedly wants three starters and three back-ups in central defence, right wing and attack.

However, Tuesday morning seemingly saw Klopp’s representative seek to quash the rumours. In a short statement given to gambling website winwin.com, agent Marc Kosicke simply said “this news is not true.”

How Jurgen Klopp could transform Serie A
Yet that does not prevent Roma supporters – or the Serie A fanbase in general – from wondering just what such a move could do for both the Giallorossi and the wider world of Italian football.

Klopp’s accolades speak for themselves. From promotion with Mainz 05, winning the Bundesliga twice and reaching the UEFA Champions League Final with Borussia Dortmund and then transforming Liverpool, success has followed the 57-year-old at every turn.

His high-energy and demand for relentless effort has lifted every group he has led, raising standards across the board both on and off the pitch. Klopp’s man-management even extends beyond the playing squad and staff, forging a deep connection with supporters on Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’ and Anfield’s Kop alike.

Harnessing the power of those passionate fanbases, he made it his mission “to turn doubters into believers.” Yet arguably his greatest achievement was to raise the bar of the entire Premier League, pushing rivals like Manchester City to new heights in order for Pep Guardiola’s men to finish above Liverpool.

That kind of elevation is exactly what Serie A needs. Yes, Inter have reached the Champions League Final this year and Antonio Conte’s Napoli are pushing for a domestic title, but the overall standard of the league has undoubtedly slipped.

Juventus are lurching from one coach to the next with no real vision for the future, while the once-mighty AC Milan will miss out on Europe altogether next season and the likes of Fiorentina, Torino and Parma – all having won major trophies in the past – are shadows of their former selves.

Indeed, outside of Gian Piero Gasperini’s irrepressible Atalanta, it is difficult to see any other Italian club playing good football and making intelligent, well-thought out decisions off the pitch.

Forcing them to compete with a manager of Klopp’s standard and stature would push those traditionally great clubs to rethink their approach, to empower

The impact of a Coach as transformative as Jurgen Klopp could not only make AS Roma a genuine force, but could prove to be a rising tide that raises all boats on the Italian football landscape.

Forbes.com

Serie A

Star Napoli Striker Wants Torino Move

Napoli striker Cyril Ngonge wants to reunite with his former Hellas Verona coach Marco Baroni at Torino.

Napoli striker Ngonge wants to leave the Stadio Maradona to reunite with his former coach, Baroni, at Torino.

Ngonge wants Torino move
Sources with direct knowledge of the matter tell me that the 25-year-old is eager to play for the Granata under the manager who saw him score six goals in 21 Verona games in his debut Serie A season.

Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is also directly involved as Napoli are strongly interested in the Serbia international.

Napoli to make Milinkovic-Savic decision
The Partenopei haven’t yet decided whether to pay his €20m clause and are aware that Milinkovic-Savic hasn’t yet received offers from foreign clubs.

Napoli will decide in the coming days, keeping an eye on the Alex Meret situation, as the Italian goalkeeper’s contract expires at the end of the month.

Ngonge joined Napoli in a €20m deal from Verona in the 2024 January transfer window.

The Belgium international has scored three goals in 35 appearances with the Partenopei.

Football-italia.net

Serie A

Dzeko Joins Fiorentina; Kean Stays? Esposito a Target

Fiorentina are on the verge of announcing the signing of Edin Dzeko, hope to retain Moise Kean at the Stadio Franchi, but are also following Inter’s Sebastiano Esposito.

Fiorentina are set to make some changes to their attacking department in 2025-26 and will soon confirm the signing of Dzeko on a free transfer.

The ex-Roma and Inter striker completed his medical on Thursday and already visited Fiorentina’s training facilities.

Fiorentina hope they won’t need a replacement for Kean, who has a release clause that can be activated in July. For the moment, the Tuscans and their strikers have not received formal approaches.

Fiorentina interested in Esposito
Even if Kean stays at the Stadio Franchi, Fiorentina would not rule out another signing in attack, sources tell me.

The Tuscans, in fact, are following Inter’s Sebastiano Esposito, who has one year left in his contract with the Nerazzurri.

Esposito is also followed by Parma and has been mentioned for a possible player-plus-cash swap deal for Ange-Yoan Bonny.

Football-italia.net

Serie A

Parma Appoint Carlos Cuesta As Head Coach

Parma have confirmed the appointment of Arsenal coach Carlos Cuesta as their new head coach, following a period of intense speculation over the past week.

From Arsenal to Italy…
After serving as Mikel Arteta’s assistant at the Premier League side, Cuesta will take over the reigns of Parma on July 1 – signing a two-year deal until June 2027, with an optional extension of a further year.

Cuesta, 29, spent five years in North London with the Gunners, quickly establishing himself as an integral part of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s set-up, despite his relatively young age.

Prior to his time at the Emirates, Cuesta spent two years as an assistant coach within Juventus’ youth academy, so this will not be his first experience coaching in Italy.

Speaking in a statement on their official website, Parma wrote “Parma Calcio is pleased to announce that, starting from 1 July, Carlos Cuesta will be the technical director of the Men’s First Team.

“Cuesta, born in Palma de Mallorca on 29 July 1995, has signed a two-year contract until 30 June 2027, with an option to extend for the following season.

“President Kyle J. Krause and the entire Parma Calcio family extend a warm welcome to Carlos.

“The presentation of the coach is scheduled for Thursday 26 June at 15:00, in the “Gianfranco Bellè” press room of the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma.”

Football-italia.net