As the winter transfer window looms, the Italian football scene is abuzz with speculation, ambition, and a fair bit of intrigue. Two of Serie A’s most talked-about narratives involve a pair of rising stars—one, a defender fighting back from injury and the other, a young striker whose rapid ascent has caught the eye of Europe’s elite. With clubs like Roma, Fiorentina, Napoli, and even Borussia Dortmund circling, the coming weeks promise no shortage of drama.
First up is Radu Dragusin, the Romanian center-back whose resilience has become the stuff of headlines. After a punishing 11-month spell on the sidelines due to a ruptured ACL, Dragusin made his long-awaited return to the pitch. His comeback couldn’t be better timed, not just for his own career but for the growing list of clubs eager to secure his signature. Tottenham Hotspur, his current club, shelled out €25 million to bring him in from Genoa in 2024, and he’s still got four and a half years left on his contract—a fact that complicates any potential move.
But the rumor mill is churning at full speed. According to reports from Tuttomercatoweb and Corriere dello Sport, Serie A giants Fiorentina, Napoli, and Roma are all keen to lure Dragusin back to Italy. Fiorentina, in particular, is making moves behind the scenes. The imminent arrival of Fabio Paratici, the former Tottenham sporting director, at Fiorentina could be the catalyst for a formal approach. Yet, as it stands, it’s all just “chatter for now,” as Dragusin’s agent, Florin Manea, candidly told Digi Sport.
“His club doesn’t want to sell him, but I’ll handle it. I’ll speak to him. We’ll see what the decision will be,” Manea explained. “Fabio Paratici is about to join Fiorentina. It’s just chatter for now; nobody called me directly. We could get some offers. Smaller English teams could pursue him, but returning to Italy would be the best option because he’d move to a big club.”
Dragusin’s determination is palpable. After nearly a year out, he’s eager to establish himself as a regular starter. “He has four and a half years left on his contract with Tottenham. He’s been out for 11 months, and we can’t wait for 17 more. He’s 100 percent determined to be a regular. We have to mull over what to do in January,” Manea added. For Tottenham, the decision isn’t straightforward. They paid a premium for Dragusin, and his contract length means they hold most of the cards. Still, the allure of Serie A, especially with Fiorentina and Roma sniffing around, could prove too strong to ignore.
Roma, meanwhile, is juggling multiple priorities. According to Corriere dello Sport, while they have earmarked Dragusin as a defensive reinforcement, their immediate focus is on bolstering their attack. The capital club’s transfer strategy is nothing if not ambitious, and their sporting director, Frederic Massara, is leaving no stone unturned. But Roma isn’t alone in the hunt for new blood. The club is also closely monitoring Giovane, a 2003-born striker who has taken Serie A by storm since joining Hellas Verona from Corinthians in the summer of 2025.
Giovane’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Arriving as a relatively quiet signing, he’s quickly established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young talents. ESPN Brasil has highlighted his versatility—he’s a left-footed striker who can also operate as a winger or second striker. His pace, dribbling, and ability to beat defenders have made him a nightmare for opposition backlines, and he’s already chipped in with some crucial goals this season.
Roma’s interest is hardly surprising, but they’re facing stiff competition. Inter Milan’s sporting director, Piero Ausilio, has already touched base with Giovane’s agent, while Atalanta views the Brazilian as a potential successor to Ademola Lookman. The allure of Serie A is matched only by the interest from abroad: Borussia Dortmund, always on the lookout for emerging talent, is also in the mix.
Hellas Verona, for their part, aren’t making life easy for suitors. Sporting director Sean Sogliano has set a firm asking price, refusing to entertain offers below €22 million. That’s a significant sum for a player who only arrived a few months ago, but it’s a testament to Giovane’s impact and potential. The club knows what they’ve got—a modern forward tailor-made for the high-speed, pressing game favored by managers like Gian Piero Gasperini.
“Giovane is a modern, left-footed striker capable of operating as both a winger and a second striker, characteristics that complement the pressing, high-speed style of football advocated by Gian Piero Gasperini,” noted ESPN Brasil. “His ability to beat a player and his pace with the ball have made him one of the most sought-after young players, so much so that he has already scored some crucial goals this season.”
With the transfer window about to open, Roma’s shopping list is long and varied. The club’s American owners, the Friedkins, have reportedly already greenlit investment in Giacomo Raspadori, while Joshua Zirkzee remains on their radar. But the pursuit of Giovane and Dragusin signals a desire to build for both the present and the future. Massara’s approach is methodical—he’s monitoring every angle, weighing up the club’s needs in both defense and attack.
Elsewhere, the situation at Chelsea with Axel Disasi provides a bit of context to the defensive merry-go-round. With all their international loan slots filled, Chelsea would have to sell Disasi outright—reportedly for around €20 million—if he’s to move this window. It’s a subplot that could influence Roma’s defensive plans, though their primary targets remain closer to home.
For now, everything is still up in the air. Dragusin’s future hinges on Tottenham’s willingness to negotiate and the seriousness of interest from Fiorentina, Napoli, and Roma. Giovane, meanwhile, is enjoying his breakout campaign but could soon be faced with a career-defining move. The only certainty is that Serie A’s transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most compelling in recent memory.
As the days tick down to January, fans across Italy and beyond will be glued to the latest updates, wondering which clubs will make the decisive moves. Will Dragusin don the purple of Fiorentina or the red of Roma? Can Giovane resist the pull of Europe’s heavyweights for another season at Verona? The answers are coming soon, and until then, the speculation—and anticipation—continues to grow.
