4. Kostas Manolas – €36 million (Napoli)
Kostas Manolas joined Napoli from Roma in a deal worth €36 million, with midfielder Amadou Diawara moving in the opposite direction. He was probably the best individual defender for years at Roma. Manolas has used his experience to tackle less over the years, and intercept the ball more.
With Napoli, Manolas needs the confidence back, he needs more than just being a fast defender in a high line defence. What lies in wait for Napoli fans is a mouthwatering defensive partnership of Manolas and Kalidou Koulibaly, two of the division’s most highly rated centre-backs. I Partenopei, as well as manager Carlo Ancelotti, will hope the duo can help bridge the gap to Juventus, who won an astounding eighth consecutive Scudetto last season.
3. Hirving Lozano – €42 million (Napoli)
After long talks, Lozano officially joined Napoli. He reportedly signed a five-year contract with a transfer fee of €42 million, making him Napoli’s most expensive signing, as well as the highest transfer fee paid for a Mexican player, and the largest fee received by PSV Eindhoven for a player.
Eight days later, Lozano made his Serie A debut as a second-half substitute against Juventus in Turin, scoring his side’s second goal in a 4-3 defeat. In both 2017-18 and 2018-19, the winger netted 17 goals and provided eight assists in the league, and he won an Eredivisie title in his debut campaign at PSV. He should add more goals to Ancelotti’s squad and also has the potential to form dangerous partnerships with the likes of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Arkadiusz Milik.
