Five Serie A summer transfers that went under the radar
By jc
Eljif Elmas, Napoli
No team demonstrates a knack for midfield talent like Napoli. Napoli’s run of midfielders includes Jorginho (who moved to Chelsea for over $60 million,) Allan, Piotr Zieliński, and Fabián Ruiz.
Eljif Elmas appears next in line for Napoli’s midfield. Elmas joined Napoli from Fenerbahce this summer for $16.5 million.
The 19-year-old Elmas emerged as a young star last year for Fenerbahce. He’s a creative midfielder who is more comfortable with the ball than without. Elmas likes to play short passes to his teammates, and he can dribble around almost any defender. He has yet to develop much of a defensive game, but Elmas can add instant offense.
Napoli already has one of Serie A’s deepest groups of midfielders. Allan, Zieliński, and Ruiz all return from last year. As such, Elmas will have a difficult time cracking Napoli’s starting lineup. Expect manager Carlo Ancelotti to use Elmas mostly as a substitute this season.
Elmas, however, will still impact Napoli’s season. Between Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia, Allan, Zieliński, and Ruiz each played over 40 games last year. This heavy workload caused Napoli’s midfielders to fade as the season went along. This year, Elmas will provide backup so his teammates can stay fresh all season.
Given his talent, Elmas should become a bigger factor as he gains experience later into the season. He might even become a consistent starter at some point. So, while his transfer has more long-term implications, he’ll benefit Napoli in the short term, too.
Elmas may not play as many games as Napoli’s two biggest signings, Kostas Manolas and Hirving Lozano. His play, however, will help determine whether or not Napoli has enough midfield depth to win the Scudetto this year.