NAPOLI AND INTER MILAN LAUNCH BIDDING WAR FOR COMO STAR MAXIMO PERRONE
Maximo Perrone is the target of a €50m bidding war between Napoli and Inter after leading Como to fourth in Serie A.
Maximo Perrone has emerged as a standout performer this season for Como, attracting considerable attention from top clubs. Como, having established themselves among Italy’s football elite and eyeing a spot in the Champions League, rely heavily on Perrone’s creativity and influence. Once a lesser-known figure, the former Manchester City midfielder has become a central figure in Fabregas’s team, and now several major clubs are lining up for his signature. This summer promises a competitive battle, with Inter and Napoli showing serious interest. But Como, bolstered by their impending European campaign, is unlikely to let him go without a fight.
Looking closer at the interest from Italy’s giants, journalist Matteo Moretto recently shared insights on YouTube, highlighting Inter and Napoli as the two main contenders. Inter have praised Perrone and clearly rate him, although they haven’t yet approached his representatives directly. Napoli, on the other hand, seems more proactive. They have monitored Perrone for some time and view him as a realistic addition, especially following a specific request from coach Conte. Conte, who has indicated his intention to stay with Napoli but will discuss plans at season’s end, sees Perrone as a key piece, particularly if Stanislav Lobotka departs next summer. Even if Lobotka stays, Perrone’s arrival remains a possibility.
Despite growing interest, Como holds the cards here. They are financially stable and preparing to embark on their first European adventure, whether that’s in the Champions League or the Europa League is still unclear. After taking Perrone on loan from Manchester City, Como acquired his rights last summer, though City retained 30 per cent of any future resale. This project around Lake Como is in its early stages, making the idea of selling such a vital player complicated. The club’s willingness to sell, the price set, and the offers they receive will all shape what happens next.
Perrone, under contract until 2029, is in the best form of his young career. At 23, he’s featured in 31 games this season, contributing two goals and four assists, consistently anchoring the midfield in Fabregas’s tactical setup, a system the Argentine shapes with deliberate control. It’s this partnership that the transfer market will undoubtedly try to disrupt in the coming months.
MODRIC UNDERGOES CHEEKBONE SURGERY JUST WEEKS BEFORE CROATIA’S OPENING MATCH
AC Milan and Croatia legend Luka Modric has undergone surgery following a clash of heads. We look at his path to World Cup fitness.
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Luka Modric, AC Milan’s Croatian midfield legend, just had surgery after fracturing his cheekbone, an injury that couldn’t have come at a worse time, with the World Cup so close. He picked up the injury in a tough Serie A match against Juventus, sending his World Cup hopes up in the air.
Modric, who’s been a rock for Milan this season, clashed heads with Manuel Locatelli during Sunday’s 0-0 draw at San Siro. It was one of those moments where you just know something’s wrong. He had to come off with ten minutes left, clearly in some pain, but stayed on the sidelines until the final whistle, not wanting to leave his teammates behind. After the match, scans showed he’d fractured his left cheekbone, which meant immediate surgery.
This setback couldn’t have come at a worse time. Modric is gearing up for what’s probably his last World Cup as Croatia’s captain. Still, his national team coach, Zlatko Dalic, sounds confident. He recently spoke with Luka, wished him a quick recovery, and said he believes Modric will do everything possible to get fit before the World Cup. Dalic is convinced his captain will bounce back and lead Croatia once again this summer.
For Milan, though, that pretty much ends Modric’s club season. With just four games left and Milan trailing Inter by twelve points, it’s hard to see him making another league appearance. That’s a tough pill to swallow after such a strong year. He’s started 32 out of 34 matches, showing he can still hang with the best at 40. Modric’s contract runs out this summer, but he can choose to stay for another year if he wants.
So what now? Croatia start their World Cup campaign against England on June 17, then face Ghana and Panama. If Modric heals in time, he’ll probably have to play wearing one of those carbon-fibre masks you see nowadays when players come back from facial injuries. The Croatian team still hopes he’ll be fully fit before the tournament kicks off. There's a seven-week window, so fingers crossed.
For Modric, this summer could be the last shot at the biggest stage in football. The next few weeks are all about rehab and recovery, and honestly, pretty much everyone’s going to be watching to see if he makes it back for one more run at glory.
ISMAëL KONé’S BREAKOUT SERIE A FORM SPARKS MAJOR INTEREST AHEAD OF SUMMER WINDOW
Fabio Grosso has secured Sassuolo’s survival, powered by breakout star Ismaël Koné. We look at the Canadian's stellar debut season.
Jonathan David grabbed plenty of headlines during his first year in Serie A, but he’s not the only Canadian making waves in Italy. Sassuolo’s Ismaël Koné has started turning heads, too.
Koné scored six goals in 30 Serie A matches this season, and he’s quickly become one of the league’s most exciting midfielders. At just 23, he joined Sassuolo from Marseille last summer, so this was his first taste of Italian football.
Sassuolo’s season started rocky; one week, they looked dazzling, the next, they seemed lost. You never really knew which version of the team would show up, almost like throwing down bets with no script. But as the months went on, they steadied themselves under coach Fabio Grosso, who you might remember from the 2006 World Cup. The team eventually found their feet and wrapped up their Serie A safety weeks before the end.
One of Sassuolo’s bright spots came on March 1, 2026, when they edged out Atalanta 2-1 at home. Koné opened the scoring in minute 23, and Grosso couldn’t hide his pride afterwards, telling DAZN: “That was a wild match. The guys just wrote their names into this club’s history. We’d been searching for something sweet to cap off our season; this was it, plus a huge cherry on top. Atalanta have been dangerous, fresh off their run in the Champions League, but our defenders kept their focus for the full 90 minutes. That’s not easy to do.”
He added, “We needed those points, and it felt even better to get them with a performance like that.”
Back in Turin, Juventus striker Jonathan David has found things a bit more complicated. Expectations have been sky-high since the ex-Lille forward arrived on a free transfer, and every game has been dissected good and bad. Koné, by contrast, isn’t under the same glare, and that’s maybe helped him settle in quicker.
Even after David scored against Bologna, the Italian pundits couldn’t make up their minds. Massimo Ambrosini said, “Honestly, David was more involved in other matches. But his teammates appreciate him, and they stick up for him. Spalletti wants a striker with versatility. David’s gotten a bit better, but I don’t see that ruthless edge in the box just yet. He always used to have it, but we haven’t seen it here.”
For Koné, this Serie A debut has been a breakthrough. He’s shown off his stamina, poise, and talent, not just his goals. Keep an eye on him at the 2026 World Cup, and expect plenty of transfer rumours swirling around the former Marseille man all summer long.
