Serie A clubs ramp up transfer moves as World Cup 2026 heats up

Italian top‑flight clubs are deep in the summer transfer market while the World Cup 2026 unfolds. AC Milan, after a meeting in Lisbon with club chief Cardinale and agent Jorge Mendes, are targeting defenders Antonio Silva from Benfica and midfielder Morten Hjulmand from Sporting, with discussions ongoing and fallback options being considered. Juventus have accelerated negotiations for striker Randal Kolo Muani, reportedly close to a deal with PSG, and are also probing the availability of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa. Inter Milan are pursuing Chelsea midfielder Caleb Chalobah (around €30 million) and Egyptian winger Anan Khalaili, while Napoli’s manager Allegri is expected to sign a new three‑year contract. Como’s loan of Nico Paz back to the club is viewed as largely benefiting Real Madrid, raising financial‑fair‑play concerns for the Italian side.

The World Cup itself is dominating headlines: Lionel Messi continues to break records for Argentina, Ecuador upset Germany and aims to face Mexico next, while other knockout matches feature Brazil versus Japan and Germany versus Paraguay. Commentators such as Gianluca Di Marzio note that Serie A clubs face a difficult market compared with the Premier League’s “pharaonic” spending, highlighting the financial gap and the need for Italian teams to adapt.

Separately, the tournament’s surge in betting has revived worries about illegal gambling. Experts stress the importance of regulated operators in Italy, which are required to enforce age checks, anti‑money‑laundering controls and responsible‑gaming measures to protect consumers.