Fiorentina evaluating new coaching hires to take over from Pioli.
At the end of last season, the board of Fiorentina was gearing up to face, European football in the form of the Conference League. They wanted to do this with a young exciting Italian striker Moise Kean and young Italian coach Raffaele Palladino and look to contend for the trophy.
However, during the offseason Palladino and the board of Fiorentina had a falling out, the reasons are still unknown. Palladino decided to step down from Fiorentina as a result and Fiorentina then looked for a new coach.
Fiorentina decided to bring in Pioli from Al Nassar in Saudi Arabia where he went after leaving AC Milan. He spent four years and seven months in Milan, winning Milan’s 19th scudetto in the 2022/23 season.
However, his time in Florence reflects the end of his tenure in Milan rather than his start. Currently, Fiorentina sit 20th after picking up only four points in their first ten games. This is their lowest ever in the three-point era after nine league games, the closest ever is 2020-21 where they finished 13th.
That season also saw a coaching change in November which is a real possibility for this season as well. This comes as Nico Schira reports via X, that Fiorentina are already evaluating four coaches to take over from Pioli.
Who could replace Pioli?
So far they have four names on their list all who have recently had stints in Seria A but are out of work right now. Thiago Motta, Paolo Vanoli, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Nesta.
Firstly, Thiago Motta was a name rumoured around the job before Fiorentina decided to go with Pioli. He is coming off a bad stint at Juventus which saw him fired after a loss to Fiorentina, but he earned that job after helping Bologna earn qualification for the Champions League.
Vanoli took over at Torino before the. Start of last season, he saw the side finish 11th with 38 points but was let go for Marco Baroni before this season. Daniele De Rossi took over at Roma in January of 2024 and made it to September before losing his job, this is his only topflight experience. Alessandro Nesta has moved around Serie B and A in his career including two stints at Monza as his most recent job.
Contract news
Christian Pulisic could tie down future at Milan despite foreign interest
AC Milan have been an up and down team, over the last few season but some things have been constant. Christian Pulisic has been one of them, as it seems no matter the circumstances he can score. This has slowly led to him becoming one of Milan and Serie As best players.
With all of this talent it is hard for Pulisic to go unnoticed by foreign clubs, and according to TuttoMercatoWeb some have. Liverpool and Arsenal are both keeping track of Pulisic incase he doesn’t sign a contract extension with Milan. Arsenal and Liverpool have both been known to struggle for goals.
Firstly, Arsenal despite being first in the Premier League is one of the worst goalscoring sides. Most of Arsenal goals has come from set pieces as winger, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have struggled. For Liverpool meanwhile, they will likely lose Mohamed Salah after this season and will need a replacement in the summer.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026 in…
However, reports from Matteo Moretto via Youtube state that Milan have very little to worry about losing Pulisic. Firstly in his current contract AC Milan hold the rights to a one-year option. This means that his current deal will run until the end of the 2027-2028 season.
AC Milan are still confident for a new deal for Pulisic, as talks have started in the past. However, currently they are on hold as AC Milan decided to complete other deals first. There is only one key problem for AC Milan, and that is if with a new deal they will lose the tax empetion to the Decreto Crescita, as he is a foreign player which will increase the price of a renewal for Milan.
News
Done Deal: Ademola Lookman has chosen his future destination.
Atalanta has been in the market most of January, looking to buy and sell attackers. This came as they hired Raffaele Palladino during November and they are looking to build a team around him. This lead to the signing of Giacomo Raspadori, as they beat Roma to sign the former Napoli attack. (read more here)
However, Atalanta aren’t only in the market for buying they are also selling. This comes as some players are no longer wanted by Palladino. One of these players is Kamaldeen Sulemana who was wanted by both Napoli, and AS Roma. However, he will likely not be allowed to leave. (read more here)

Turin, Italy Kamaldeen Sulemana of Atalanta Bc controls the ball during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Atalanta BC at Allianz Stadium on…
This comes as Atalanta will sell Ademola Lookman, before the end of the window. This comes from a report from Matteo Moretto which states that Atletico Madrid has closed a deal to sign the Nigerian. The easy part for Atleti was closing a deal with Atalanta, while Lookman needed some convincing.
Atletico Madrid outbidded Fenerbahce’s in a deal worth 35 million plus 5 million bonuses, to sign Lookman. However, they couldn’t match the wage offer from Fenerbahce who offered Lookman a ridiculous 9 million per season. However, they did manage to convince Lookman to choose a move to Madrid.
The deal will be signed soon as Lookman will have to travel to Madrid for medicals. If Lookman passes all his test he will be set to join Atletico Madrid before the transfer deadline. This now means that Atalanta will likely keep Kamaldeen Sulemana, leading Napoli to look at other options, mainly Alisson Santos who they have closed a deal for. (read more here)
News
AC Milan and AS Roma in quick negotiations for Christopher Nkunku
AC Milan have been looking for attackers, this entire month, as Santiago Gimenez hasn’t worked out in Milan. Niclas Fullkrug was signed by Milan at the start of this month. Milan also want to bring in Jean-Philippe Mateta before the end of this month but someone will have to be sold. (read more here)
Milan would ideally sell Gimenez, but he is injured which makes it close to impossible to do so. This has lead them to looking into anyone else they can sell. New signing, Christopher Nkunku is someone who could make a move according to Il Romanista, as Roma and Milan open talks.
Roma and Milan only have two days to complete the deal for Nkunku so talks are on rapid fire. This is because this deal triggers Mateta, as Milan can’t bring him in until someone leaves. However, if a deal for Mateta is put on pause until the summer this deal would fall through.

Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring a goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Fulham at Selhurst…
Roma want a deal for Nkunku as they have been looking to add attacking power all summer. They managed to sign Donyell Malen this summer, but they don’t plan on stopping there. They tried to sign Kamaldeen Sulemana from Atalanta but the deal has also fallen through. (read more here)
Nkunku could be a smart way for Roma to cap off this month for Roma. This comes as Roma look to push for a Champions League finish at a minimum, and potentially a title. Nkunku could also play multiple positions something which Roma will be fans of.
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