Five Italy players who could change club with view to 2026 World Cup

ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 17: Gianluigi Donnarumma and Federico Chiesa of Italy celebrate the win at the end of the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between Italy and North Macedonia at Stadio Olimpico on November 17, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Giorgio Scalvini, Federico Chiesa and Marco Carnesecchi are among the Italian players who could change clubs this summer ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Football Italia looks at five Italy players who could join a new club this summer before possibly playing in the 2026 World Cup, provided that the Azzurri qualify for the first time since 2014.

Based on the latest transfer rumours and exclusive Football Italia updates, here are some of the most highly rated Italian players who could leave their current clubs in the 2025 summer transfer window.

From goalkeepers to centre-forward, here are five Azzurri whose summer transfer would not come as a surprise.

Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta)

The Diva shotstopper has been targeted by Manchester United, who were ready to send a €40m offer at the end of June, as Football Italia exclusively reported. That fee would not be enough to convince Atalanta, as Carnesecchi has become a regular starter in Bergamo, where he is under contract until June 2028. Atalanta have already sold another Italy player, Mateo Retegui, who is expected to complete a €70m transfer to Al Qadsiah FC this week, leaving Atalanta in no need to sell players for financial reasons. This means that offers from Manchester United or any other club will have to be truly convincing.

Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)

Another Italian talent under contract with Atalanta. The versatile defender had a troubled season in 2024-25 as he first recovered from a knee injury and then missed the second part of the campaign with a shoulder issue. The Times reported last week that Scalvini was a priority target for Newcastle United, but according to SportMediaset, Napoli and Milan are also interested. As previously mentioned for Carnesecchi, persuading Atalanta to sell the player won’t be any easy given that La Diva are one of the healthiest Italian clubs financially.

Davide Frattesi (Inter)

Moving into central midfield, Inter’s Davide Frattesi will surely be one to keep an eye on. Surely, Cristian Chivu doesn’t want to part ways from the Italy international, but Atletico Madrid have recently shown their interest in the ex-Sassuolo star. Frattesi has not handed in a transfer request but surely expects to be included more often in the starting XI after Simone Inzaghi’s exit. Frattesi is not unsellable at San Siro, which doesn’t mean Inter will accept any offer for the 25-year-old. With 15 goals and nine assists in 89 appearances across all competitions during his two-year spell at Inter, the Nerazzurri’s asking price surely won’t be low.

Federico Chiesa (Liverpool)

Perhaps one of the most likely Italian players to change clubs this summer. New Azzurri coach Gennaro Gattuso has already told the Liverpool winger that he’ll have to get more playing time in 2025-26 to get his first call-up since June 2024. Football Italia reported in June that Chiesa wanted to leave Anfield this summer, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll receive offers to return to Serie A. Napoli are looking for two attacking wingers this summer, while Milan will only sign a player in that position if another one leaves.

Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese)

Just like Chiesa, Lucca is very likely to leave Udinese, but contrary to the Liverpool winger, the towering centre-forward has already attracted several admirers. Napoli consider him the second option to strengthen their attack behind Darwin Nunez, while Atalanta have identified him as a replacement for Saudi Arabia-bound Retegui. Roma and Milan have also been linked with the ex-Pisa and Ajax star, who is valued at €40m by the Bianconeri.