Newly-promoted Empoli will host Lazio at the Stadio Castellani on August 21 in their 2021/22 Serie A season opener.
While the transfer market remains wide open for another few weeks, Empoli expert Jake Mills was able to provide a breakdown of the club’s business thus far.
Empoli‘s high-profile signing this summer was Italian striker Patrick Cutrone, who was signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Since bursting on the scene at AC Milan, he has had disappointing spells at Wolves, Fiorentina and Valencia, but the Azzurri will be hoping he can rediscover his goal-scoring form at the Stadio Castellani.
Elsewhere, signing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan from Cagliari was a shrewd signing, as he looked impressive when deputing for Alessio Cragno in Serie A last season. In addition re-signing Liam Henderson from Lecce, who was one of the most impressive midfielders in Serie B, was another bold move from the club.
Finally, the Azzurri strengthened their defence with the signings of Petar Stojanovic (on loan from Dinamo Zagreb), Ardian Ismajli from Spezia, Riccardo Marchizza (on loan from Sassuolo) and Sebastiano Luperto (on loan from Napoli).
Concerning departures, Empoli’s most impressive feat this transfer window is the fact that they have managed to hold on to their best players. The likes of talented youngsters Samuele Ricci, Fabiano Parisi, and Nedim Bajrami have all been linked to bigger clubs, but they have stayed put so far.
The only transfers of note out of the club have been Stefano Sabelli to Genoa and Dimitrios Nikolaou to Spezia. Ryder Matos (Udinese) and Nicolo Casale (Hellas Verona) were both on loan at Empoli last season and performed well, but have since remained at their parent clubs.
The most notable exit was that of manager Alessio Dionisi, who moved to Sassuolo. Dionisi transformed Empoli in his first season at the club, playing an attacking and exciting style that allowed them to win Serie B at a canter. It will be interesting to see how returning manager Aurelio Andreazzoli will approach the squad this season.
