The 2025-26 Serie A season is beginning to draw to a close and teams are already beginning to plan their next steps ahead of opening of the transfer window, but it could be another complicated summer for Juventus and Aston Villa loanee Douglas Luiz according to the latest reports. 

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Juventus may struggle to find a Douglas Luiz solution this summer

Douglas Luiz joined Juventus in a €50m deal from Aston Villa at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, but went on to have a disappointing start to life in Serie A with just starts in the league during his first campaign in Italy. 

Having failed to convince during his first season in Turin, Douglas Luiz was allowed to leave to join Nottingham Forest on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal that could have earned Juventus €31.5m if all bonuses were met. 

In the end, Forest did not trigger the obligation to buy clause in the Brazilian’s contract, and instead agreed to terminate his deal ahead of schedule, which facilitated a return to his former club, Aston Villa, during the January transfer window. 

The Aston Villa loan deal included an option to buy for a fee of €25m with bonuses of up to €3.5m, however, according to the latest reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Villa have already decided that they are unwilling to trigger their option to buy. 

Though he made six consecutive starts in the Premier League after rejoining Aston Villa in January, Douglas Luiz has not been included in the starting XI for the last five league fixtures, nor has he started in any of the club’s last three outings in the Europa League. Since mid-March, the 27-year-old has only played for a total of 80 minutes. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus need to raise around €30m from Douglas Luiz if they are to avoid making a capital loss. But given that he has now endured underwhelming stints with three different clubs over the last 18 months, the Pink Paper writes that Douglas Luiz will become ‘a big problem’ for the Bianconeri this summer: “Finding a club willing to relaunch him will not be easy at all.”

Though they are not due to play until Sunday evening, Hellas Verona’s relegation from Serie A has been mathematically confirmed following Lecce’s 2-1 victory away against Pisa on Friday night. 

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Confirmed: Pisa and Verona relegated to Serie B

Two sides were officially relegated on Friday evening: 20th-placed Pisa were defeated at home by the 17th-placed Lecce, which means that they are now 14 points deep into the relegation zone with just three games of the season left to play and are no longer able to reach safety. 

Verona, who will play against Juventus on Sunday, are only one point better off than Pisa on 19 points after 34 matches. They are 13 points deep into the relegation zone with four matches left to play, which confirms that they will also finish the 2025-26 season in the bottom three. 

It has been a disappointing season for Verona, who have only picked up three wins in the league all season; their first coming at home against Atalanta on December 6. This led to the dismissal of Paolo Zanetti as head coach on February 2, who was replaced by interim Paolo Sammarco the following day. 

Verona will now return to the second tier of Italian football for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when they finished the Serie B campaign in fifth place, gaining promotion through the play-offs. 

Raffaele Palladino and Atalanta are looking to get back to winning ways with a visit from Daniele De Rossi and Genoa, who will be aiming to confirm mathematical safety in Serie A on Saturday evening.

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Atalanta have been on a disappointing run of form in February and are without a victory across their last four matches in all competitions. They find themselves in seventh place in the Serie A table, and could end up needing a favour from Inter in the Coppa Italia final in order to qualify for next season’s Conference League. 

Genoa come into Saturday evening’s fixture in 14th place, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with four league matches of the 2025-26 season left to play. A victory against Atalanta will guarantee their Serie A status for another season, but they will also ensure safety as long as Cremonese do not beat Lazio on Monday evening. 

Despite the 3-2 defeat against Cagliari on Monday night, Palladino is unlikely to make any changes to his attacking unit of Giacomo Raspadori, Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca. 

There could be changes in defence and midfield, though, as Sky Sport Italia suggest that Isak Hien, Honest Ahanor and Marten De Roon could come in for Berat Djimsiti, Sead Kolasinac and Mario Pasalic. 

Genoa were beaten 2-0 by Como last weekend and could also be in line for a tactical reshuffle. Pre-match reports suggest that it could be a switch from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 this weekend, and that Lorenzo Colombo could come back into the starting line-up to partner Jeff Ekhator in attack.  

Sky Sport Italia claims that there could be a full senior debut for 21-year-old Genoa defender Nils Zatterstrom. 

Kick-off is due at 19.45 BST.

Atalanta vs. Genoa: Probable line-ups

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Ahanor; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Raspadori; Scamacca. 

Genoa (3-5-2): Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Zatterstrom; Sabelli, Frendrup, Amorim, Masini, Ellertsson; Ekhator, Colombo. 

Where to watch Atalanta vs. Genoa

Today’s game will be available to watch live in the UK exclusively on DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog. 

Cesc Fabregas reunites with his former boss Antonio Conte as second-placed Napoli host the Champions League-chasing Como in a game that could have huge implications on the race for the Serie A top four on Saturday evening. 

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Como come into tonight’s fixture on 61 points after 34 matches, three shy of Juventus in the coveted fourth place heading into the final four games of the 2025-26 season. They host Napoli, second on 69 points, who are closing in on Champions League qualification, but could see title rivals Inter go on to win the Scudetto by the end of this weekend. 

Pre-match reports indicate that Fabregas is unlikely to make any changes to his side that beat Genoa 2-0 away from home last weekend. 

Nico Paz is expected to start despite being taken off after a nasty clash of heads last time out. He is likely to be joined by Assane Diao, Martin Baturina and Tasos Douvikas in the Como attack. 

Napoli got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over relegation-threatened Cremonese last weekend, which means that Conte is unlikely to make too many personnel changes either. 

Sam Beukema could come back into the defence along with Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno, but Napoli’s midfield and attack of Stanislav Lobotka, Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Alisson Santos and Rasmus Hojlund is likely to remain unchanged. 

Kick off at the Stadio Sinigaglia is due at 17.00 BST. 

Como vs. Napoli: Probable line-ups 

Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, D.Carlos, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, McTominay, Lobotka, Gutierrez; De Bruyne, Alisson; Hojlund. 

Where to watch Como vs. Napoli 

Today’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and on DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog. 

Luciano Spalletti has been crowned as the Serie A coach of the month for April after an unbeaten run over the last few weeks, and the Juventus tactician has now equalled the record for the most wins since the award was introduced in 2021-22. 

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Juventus’s Spalletti named Serie A coach of the month for April

Spalletti has won the coach of the month award after leading Juventus to three victories and one draw across their four matches in the month of April. The Bianconeri picked up a 2-0 victory over Genoa at the start of the month, defeated Atalanta 1-0 away from home the following week, beat Bologna 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium and most recently held Milan to a 0-0 draw in San Siro. 

These results put Juventus in fourth place with four matches of the 2025-26 season left to play, three points behind the third-placed Milan and importantly, three points clear of Como and Roma in fifth and sixth place respectively. 

Spalletti will receive his award ahead of the Serie A match between Juventus and Hellas Verona at the Allianz Stadium this Sunday, May 3.

Spalletti is the first Juventus representative to win the coach of the month award since the aforementioned Allegri back in November 2023. This is his first coach of the year award away from Napoli. 

Spalletti has now won the Serie A coach of the month award a record five times, a feat that has only previously been achieved by former Inter and Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, who won all of his awards with the Nerazzurri. 

Allegri, Gian Piero Gasperini and Thiago Motta are the next-most successful with four coach of the month wins each, then come Vincenzo Italiano and Cesc Fabregas on three apiece. 

Serie A coach of the month winners so far in 2025-26 

August: Davide Nicola (Cremonese)

September: Massimiliano Allegri (Milan)

October: Gian Piero Gasperini (Roma) 

November: Massimiliano Allegri (Milan) 

December: Cristian Chivu (Inter) 

January: Cristian Chivu (Inter) 

February: Raffaele Palladino (Atalanta) 

March: Cesc Fabregas (Como) 

April: Luciano Spalletti (Juventus)

Moise Kean is expected to miss the upcoming Serie A match between Roma and Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend, and while the Italy international has missed the last three outings through injury, reports confirm that he has been given permission to sit this one out on personal grounds. 

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Why Kean is expected to miss Roma vs. Fiorentina

Kean and his partner are expecting the birth of their second child in the coming days, and the Fiorentina striker has been given permission to spend the next few days at home according to updates from Violanews.com. Kean is expected to be away from the squad from May 1 until May 4. 

During his absence, the Viola striker will also continue working with his rehabilitation work to overcome the physical issues that have kept him out of his side’s last three Serie A matches. 

Fiorentina have beaten Lazio 1-0, drawn 1-1 with Lecce and drawn 0-0 with Sassuolo in Kean’s absence. Paolo Vanoli’s side are now seven matches unbeaten in the league after a disastrous first half of the 2025-26 season. 

Roberto Piccoli was Fiorentina’s go-to replacement for the first two matches of Kean’s recent absence, but as the Italian was also ruled out of the most recent 0-0 draw with Sassuolo, the starting centre-forward role was handed over to Albert Gudmundsson.

Controversial Olympique de Marseille forward Mason Greenwood is beginning to be linked with a move to Juventus again, as current Bianconeri star Francisco Conceicao is attracting interest from Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United according to the latest reports. 

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Could Greenwood replace Conceicao at Juventus?

Greenwood had been linked with a move to join Juventus on several occasions over the last two seasons and his name is beginning to reappear in Bianconeri circles approaching the summer transfer window. 

The 24-year-old forward has netted 36 goals from 62 appearances in Ligue 1 over the last two seasons, including 15 from 28 league outings in 2025-26. 

He and his Marseille teammates currently find themselves in sixth place in the Ligue 1 table heading into the final three matches of the 2025-26 season and are unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League. This means that Greenwood could potentially be allowed to leave to raise funds and to fulfil the player’s desire of competing in UEFA’s flagship competitions next season. 

Meanwhile, current Juventus forward Conceicao is beginning to attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, including Liverpool and Manchester United according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

The Portugal international has come up with four goals and four assists from 38 appearances across all competitions this season, but it is his relentlessness and dribbling ability that has caught the eye of scouts in the Premier League. 

Juventus paid a fee of €7m plus up to €3m in bonuses to sign Conceicao on loan for the 2024-25 season, and then invested a further €30.4m with bonuses of up to €1.6m to sign the winger on a permanent transfer at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. That means that Juventus have agreed to invest a minimum of €37.4m on his signing and a maximum of €43m if all bonuses were to be met. 

Friday’s reports indicate that it would take an offer in the region of €50m to convince Juventus into selling Conceicao this summer, which is coincidentally roughly the same fee that has been mentioned if Juventus were to attempt to sign Greenwood this summer.

Reports in Italy claim that Marco Palestra is among Inter’s top targets heading into the summer transfer window, but signing the exciting young full-back likely depends on a couple of outgoings first. 

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Report: Inter could sell two players to accommodate Palestra signing

According to reports from Corriere dello Sport and Calciomercato.com, Palestra and Como’s Nico Paz are Inter’s two great ‘obsessions’ ahead of the summer transfer window. Palestra has enjoyed an excellent breakthrough season on an individual level with Cagliari, where he has spent the 2025-26 season on loan from Atalanta. 

Palestra will return to Bergamo this summer, and according to Friday’s reports, Atalanta’s ideal plan would be for Palestra to stay on board for another season in Serie A before looking for a sale, potentially for an even higher fee. 

However, with plans to strengthen Cristian Chivu’s squad after what is expected to be the club’s 21st Scudetto in 2025-26, Inter are keen to bring Palestra to San Siro this summer, and are said to be prepared to invest a fee in the region of €40m for the 21-year-old right-back. 

According to the latest updates, Inter will likely have to move players on first before welcoming Palestra, though. 

There is talk that current first-choice right wing-back Denzel Dumfries could leave the club given that he has a €25m release clause in his contract, which will be valid this summer.

There has also been a suggestion that Luis Henrique could be sold if an offer were to come in this summer. The Brazilian has struggled to impress in his first season in Serie A, and as per Calciomercato, there was interest from AFC Bournemouth during the January transfer window. Inter would reportedly be even more keen to sell Luis Henrique this summer if interest were to reemerge.

Reports in Italy indicate that Luka Modric is set to trigger the one-year extension clause in his contract with Milan rather than end his illustrious career through injury after fracturing his cheekbone in a recent 0-0 draw with Juventus. 

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Modric and Milan expecetd to activate 12-month extension clause

The signing of the 40-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner has been an overwhelming success in San Siro. Modric has started in 32 of Milan’s 34 matches in Serie A so far this season, and has racked up a total of 2,788 minutes in the league, which is more than he managed in any of his last five seasons with Real Madrid. 

Modric is, however, expected to miss the final four matches of the 2025-26 season after suffering a fractured cheekbone while challenging for a header with Manuel Locatelli during last weekend’s 0–0 draw between Milan and Juventus in Serie A. 

This could have potentially been a career-ending injury, given that Modric signed a one-year contract with Milan at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign, but reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that he will activate the 12-month extension clause in his deal in order to prolong his stay in San Siro. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is technically a club option to extend, but Milan will not activate the extension clause in Modric’s contract without his blessing first. 

Friday’s report claims that Modric just needs to give the thumbs up, which he is expected to do, in order for Milan to extend his stay until the end of the 2026-27 season. A formal announcement is unlikely to arrive before the end of the 2026 World Cup this summer, though. 

Modric is said to be attracted to the idea of playing Champions League football under Massimiliano Allegri next season, as well as the idea of announcing his retirement and bidding farewell to professional football at a major club like Milan and at an iconic venue like San Siro.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Only Milan 

Modric has decided 

Doesn’t want to finish on an injury, another year in Rossonero to play in the Champions League with Allegri, or it’s goodbye to football 

The Scudetto of goals 

Inter: ThuLa for the league and cup 

Lautaro top scorer, Thuram vice: An historic partnership. Napoli in Como tomorrow

Malagò shot 

Towards the elections 

Players and coaches are convinced, FIGC Presidency getting closer

‘Favoured’ referees don’t appear in any testimony 

Gervasoni in front of the prosecutor’s office 

Corriere dello Sport 

Forza Calcio! 

From the refereeing scandal to the super weekend 

Three Champions League finals | Tomorrow, Como-Napoli will decide the top clubs’ European fates and Inter’s Scudetto 

Conte will be at the home of Fabregas after the tensions in the first leg and the league title they won together at Chelsea. McTominay needs five points from four games to secure the gold from UEFA 

Gervasoni to the prosecutor’s office: ‘No alterations’ 

Referee investigation: In Rocchi’s logic, there are no distinctions between favoured and unfavoured refs

The Yildiz policy 

Juventus-Verona on Sunday 

A 55% win rate and 1.8 goals per game with Kenan. Four wins in 21 games without the trequartista 

Malen, what an average 

Roma-Fiorentina on Monday 

Donyell for 4th place: 0.87 goals per 90 minutes. Only Mbappe and Kane better than him 

Palestra for Inter 

Parma arrive on Sunday 

Lautaro returns to secure the 21st Scudetto. Not only Paz: Ausilio is also pushing for the full-back

Frosinone dream, Bari at risk 

Penultimate round in Serie B 

Alvini is chasing direct promotion against Monza and Venezia, Longo can’t afford any slip-ups to avoid relegation 

Tuttosport 

‘Yildiz like Kvara and Olise with Spalletti’ 

Interview with Causio 

The ex-Bianconeri ace: ‘Lucio knows perfectly how to manage talent and Kenan has the skills of a super, top player. Juve is ideal for Conceicao. How great was PSG-Bayern!’. Stiller: Meeting has been scheduled. Di Gregorio could stay as a second-choice keeper, Perin heading for an exit 

Jannik, give us five! 

Madrid, Semi-final against Fils at 15.00: Sinner chasing his fifth straight Masters 1000 

Malagò gets his hands on the FIGC 

Towards the election 

The former CONI no.1 has won the support of the players and coaches as well as that of the Serie A: Now he’s close to a majority 

Gervasoni defends himself as the investigation continues

Four hours at the prosecutor’s office.

The former VAR supervisor interviewed regarding Salernitana-Modena and Inter-Roma: ‘I rule out the audio being tampered with’

D’Aversa, an obstacle course to fend off Gattuso

The Toro coach facing injuries and competition

He will be without Zapata, Ismajli, Adams and Pederson in Udine tomorrow. The former CT and Juric also cast shadows over the coach: ‘The objective is the top half of the table. We have to be ambitious: Everyone. The club’s history deserves more than just staying up’.