Di Marzio on futures of Mainoo, Guehi, Lookman and more

With the 2025-26 football season fully underway, fans are keeping a close eye on their teams and areas that need reinforcement in the January window. We sat down with renowned transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio who gave us updates on moves that could happen in the winter.

Serie A destinations for Kobbie Mainoo

Manchester United’s academy product Kobbie Mainoo has struggled for playing time under Ruben Amorim. He was close to leaving the club in the summer but a move didn’t come to fruition.

Napoli is becoming a club where ex Man Utd players are reinventing themselves. Scott McTominay won the scudetto and the Serie A MVP award last season and Rasmus Højlund has started off strong for the Naples based outfit.

Naturally, Napoli has been touted as a possible destination for Mainoo and Di Marzio reveals that he was on the Serie A champions’ list in the summer but Man Utd were unwilling to loan him out.

"Napoli asked for information about Mainoo in the summer. It's true. They asked about Mainoo while putting the deal for Rasmus Højlund in motion. But Man Utd told them that they didn't want to loan him out."

Currently, Napoli have an abundance of midfielders so their interest in Mainoo has cooled down but Di Marzio suggests that Serie A rivals AS Roma could reignite their interest in the English midfielder.

"So Napoli cooled their interest in Mainoo and now they have a lot of midfielders. Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka, Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa, Eljif Eilmas too. So I think at this moment, it's not a position that Napoli wants to cover in January."

"It depends on who's fit and also whether Man Utd are open to loaning Mainoo out. If they're open to loaning him out, it would not be a surprise that Napoli will look to get him."

"At the moment, it's not a possibility as Napoli are well covered in that area."

"AS Roma tried to get Mainoo on loan in the summer and Man Utd said no."

"I think Roma in January will try to cover two or three positions they didn't manage in the summer. Probably a striker and a midfielder. AS Roma could be one of the clubs that can try again for Mainoo."

A stumbling block, however, could be wages as Roma would like for Man Utd to pay a percentage of Mainoo’s wages but that seems to be unlikely.

"The problem for the Italian Serie A and Mainoo is wages. His wages are really high for Serie A standards. So Man Utd will have to pay part of the salary to send Mainoo to Italy and I don't think Man Utd want to do that."

"When it comes to Mainoo's role and quality, I think AS Roma will definitely be looking at him in January."

Liverpool’s focus is Guehi

A major deal that fell through at the last minute this summer was Marc Guehi joining Liverpool. The England international was all set to join the reigning Premier League champions and at that point he was 4/9 to leave which would not have made you many returns, but Crystal Palace rejected the move.

Di Marzio reveals that Guehi will be Liverpool’s priority in the winter but they’re also keeping tabs on Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande as an alternative.

"Liverpool is interested in Diomande. I don't think they'll go for him in January but they're definitely scouting him. Liverpool work a lot, scouting players for months and months. They like to see the player in different situations, on and off the pitch."

"Diomande is one of the players Liverpool is following. Doesn't mean they'll go for him in January. But for sure he's one of the more interesting players in Europe and Liverpool are following him."

"I think they're more focused on getting Marc Guehi. He's the perfect addition after Leoni's injury. To have one player that is ready to play in the Premier League and Champions League."

"It depends a lot on Crystal Palace. Everybody thought he'd join Liverpool but in the end, they said no."

"It also depends on Joe Gomez. AC Milan wanted him in the summer and if they come back for him in January, Liverpool will have to find another defender and they'll probably raise the offer for Guehi and convince Crystal Palace to let him go. It depends a lot on Palace's situation in January too."

With Liverpool being light in central defense, there’s also the looming possibility of Ibrahima Konate leaving the club next summer. He’s yet to renew his contract and Real Madrid are reportedly interested in him. Di Marzio says that a January move for Konate is unlikely but there’s a high possibility of him joining Real Madrid in the summer.

"If he doesn't renew the contract, he could join Real Madrid. But this won't happen in January."

"Liverpool currently have a problem in defence. They invested in Leoni but he's out because of injury for seven-eight months. They don't have enough players in that role and I don't think they will let the player go in January."

"If he doesn't renew his contract, anything can happen. Real Madrid, with Alexander-Arnold, they appreciate Premier League players and if Konate is out of contract, it is a very good opportunity for them to get him."

"Could happen, but not in January."

Dusan Vlahovic and Brooke Norton-Cuffy being scouted by Premier League clubs

As per Di Marzio, a couple of Serie A talents who could make January moves are Dusan Vlahovic and Brooke Norton-Cuffy.

Vlahovic’s contract is up for renewal in June. He’s not getting enough time on the pitch for Juventus and the Old Lady will look to get a fee for him in January.

“Dusan Vlahovic could be one to look out for. His contract expires in June and there could be offers in January for him. Juventus will try to get a fee so he doesn’t leave for free.

“It depends on Dusan. He’s not playing much right now so if he doesn’t play much until January a club could make space for him if they’re struggling to score goals. He could make a move to the Premier League or other top clubs.”

“Rafael Leao can’t move in January because of the World Cup. They’ll have to get used to another club or nation. Top players want to finish where they are.”

In regards to Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Di Marzio names Nottingham Forest as one of the interested parties and they could do a deal in the region of €15 million.

"Brooke Norton-Cuffy is a player doing very well at Genoa now. They bought him for €2 million and I'm sure he will have offers for €12-15 million."

"I know Nottingham Forest could be really interested in getting him to the club in January. He could be one of the players who could leave the Serie A to join the Premier League."

Ademola Lookman’s situation is still open

Atalanta star Ademola Lookman had expressed his desire to leave the club in the summer but the Bergamo based club were unwilling to let him go. The situation regressed with Lookman going public with his dissatisfaction but things seem to be on the mend. That being said, Di Marzio says this is one player to keep an eye on.

“Things are better now between Lookman, the club, the manager and the fans. Atalanta was firm this summer to maintain the price for him.”

“In January clubs might arrive at a fee of €50 million but Atalanta want to renew his contract with an exit clause so he can be happier.”

“It’s a delicate situation and if a Premier League club arrives at the right price, he’s not untouchable because of the summer which left problems that are now hidden. Problems between the player, the club and the fans.”

Kenan Yildiz is going nowhere

Turkish attacker Kenan Yildiz was linked to Arsenal in the summer but Di Marzio has shut down any possibility of him leaving Juventus in January. Yildiz is a key player for the Bianconeri and they want to build the team around him.

"Kenan Yildiz won't be leaving Juventus this January at all. He's a key part of the Juventus team."

"Juventus' current team has been built around Yildiz and he's too important for the club, the manager, the fans, for the marketing and merchandising. He's the No. 10 of Juventus after they retired the jersey following Alessandro del Piero's departure."

"I think there's only a one percent chance that he can go to Arsenal or Real Madrid this January."

The situation could change next summer but it would depend a lot on how Juventus finish the current season.

"Don't know what will happen in the summer because we have to see if Juventus can qualify for the Champions League or not. It's too early now to talk about that."

"For sure Yildiz will have an important request in the summer because everybody knows that he's the future of Juventus and of European football."

Fiorentina and Roma possible loan destinations for Endrick

Highly touted Brazilian talent Endrick hasn’t set the world alight at Real Madrid and a loan deal seems likely for him to gain playing experience. Di Marzio commented on his situation, stating that Fiorentina and Roma are clubs that could try to bring him in for six months.

“We need players like Endrick in the Serie A. Like when Brahim Diaz went to Milan on loan and when he went back to Real Madrid he was stronger.”

“Real Madrid didn’t want to let him go on loan in the summer but if he doesn’t play and Alonso has other ideas for him then Italian clubs will be open to have him on loan and give him the possibility to play for six months. Fiorentina and Roma who need offensive players on the wing could be the perfect place to play for six months.”

Read why Danny Murphy thinks it's Guehi or bust for Liverpool