Bari with work in progress, a team to build in 63 days, no unsellables

BARI - Sixty-three days to build an entire team. Just over two weeks to give it at least a semblance in view of the summer retreat. Tomorrow the summer market officially begins, closing at 8:00 pm on September 1st. And Bari is all to be assembled. The first official announcements could arrive this week, but the agenda of sports directors Giuseppe Magalini and Valerio Di Cesare is truly full of appointments. Here is the current situation, between incomings and outgoings, department by department.

GOAL AND DEFENSE The choice between the posts is made: the new number one (the fourth in as many cadet championships in the De Laurentiis era) will be Matteo Cerofolini, 26 years old, arriving permanently from Frosinone and close to signing a three-year contract. Behind him for now is Marco Pissardo, while the renewal of Davide Marfella's contract, which expires today, is unlikely: the third could be a youngster. The defense is heading for a complete revolution: Raffaele Pucino and Francesco Vicari are under contract until 2026, but both could leave, the same fate for Emmanuele Matino who returns from his loan at Cittadella and is close to reaching an agreement with Salernitana.

Two young central defenders could arrive soon: Gabriele Calvani, 21 years old from Genoa, but returning from a loan at Brescia, as well as Alessio Guerrini, 21 years old, owned by Atalanta, in the last season in C at Crotone. Among the emerging players, Antony Angileri (24 years old, from Monopoli) and Gabriele Pagliai, 23 years old from Picerno have been followed. It is obvious, however, that at least two guarantees are needed. Information has been requested on Matteo Lovato, 25 years old, who returned to Cagliari after his experience at Sassuolo. The flanks will also change: Mehdi Dorval seems destined to say goodbye and a move by one of Cagliari or Sassuolo is expected. Alessandro Tripaldelli will probably go to C. They like Tommaso Cassandro, 25 years old from Como, as well as the former Giacomo Quagliata (biancorosso in 2018-29) who returned to Cremonese at the end of his loan: both were under Fabio Caserta at Catanzaro. In the meantime, there is the arrival of the right back Marwane Kritta, 23 years old: he should arrive permanently from Lecco.

MIDFIELD Mattia Maita and Ahmad Benali are under contract, but not irremovable: if the right offer were to arrive, they could also leave. From last year's midfield, Nunzio Lella could be seen again: dialogue is open with Venezia to acquire the 25-year-old mezzala on a permanent basis. Negotiations with Salernitana to bring Giulio Maggiore back to Puglia are possible, but only under lighter contractual conditions than the last tournament. After July 3, it will be possible to register Matthias Verreth, 27 years old: the Belgian playmaker will arrive on a permanent basis after Brescia failed to register and will sign a three-year contract. Riccardo Pagano, 21-year-old mezzala, is also close: an agreement is being sought with Roma to take him on a permanent basis. Other ideas lead to Aldo Florenzi, 23-year-old from Brescia, as well as Edoardo Iannoni, 24-year-old from Sassuolo: mezzali with pace and quality already well-tested in Serie B.

ATTACK With the switch to 4-3-3, at least four attacking wingers and two centre-forwards are needed, plus a third central striker, perhaps to start as an outsider. Two deals have been started: the first concerns the return of Andrea Favilli, who has been offered a two-year deal with an option for a third year, but the 28-year-old who will be free from his contract with Genoa from tomorrow has not yet resolved his reservations about the offer from Bari and seems to be on his way to Avellino. Negotiations with Fiorentina for the attacking winger Filippo Distefano, 21, are at a good stage, coming off an unrewarding year at Frosinone due to a serious injury. Negotiations are underway with Atalanta for the loan of the talented 19-year-old Dominic Vavassori: constantly monitored by the Galletti transfer market men.

For the first striker, there are many ideas: from Luca Moro, 24 years old from Sassuolo to Luca Pandolfi, 27 years old from Cittadella. Gabriele Moncini, 29 years old, but above all Gennaro Borrelli, 25 years old, will be released from Brescia: there are also several Serie A clubs interested in him. A combined operation with Napoli cannot be ruled out, who could sign him and send him on loan to the Galletti. The suggestive return of Walid Cheddira is even being monitored, who is returning to Napoli from his experience at Espanyol: if he were not to find a place in Serie A, the Bari hypothesis (in the heart of the 26 year old Moroccan) would not be so far-fetched. And speaking of intriguing paths, keep an eye on Guglielmo Mignani, a 22-year-old young centre-forward who has revealed himself at Pianese: he is the son of Michele who, in red and white, achieved promotion to Serie B and almost made it two steps up to Serie A. A bond that puts Bari in a privileged lane in the race for the boy.