Serie A Daily Report - 2026-09-27: Parma part company with Carlos Cuesta after poor start

Parma parted company with Carlos Cuesta on Sunday, 27 September, after winning only one of their opening five Serie A matches. The club said the 31-year-old had been “relieved of his duty” following an internal discussion, with both parties agreeing that the conditions for continuing the working relationship and sporting project were no longer present. Parma have four points, despite beating Genoa last weekend, and had not immediately named a replacement. Cuesta was appointed in June 2025 and guided the club to 13th place in Serie A last season, having become the division’s youngest coach.

The decision represented the third coaching change in Serie A this season, following Paolo Vanoli’s appointment at Fiorentina and Raffaele Palladino’s move to Bologna. Parma now face a managerial search during the international break, with their next fixture scheduled away to champions Inter on 10 October. That assignment will provide an immediate test for whoever takes charge, as the club attempt to halt a difficult opening campaign. Cuesta’s departure also underlined the pressure on young coaches when early results fail to match a club’s sporting plans, even after a full season in the role.

Roma are reportedly prepared to demand €100 million for Manu Koné next year, according to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport. The 25-year-old France international remained at the club after Chelsea and Atlético Madrid allegedly failed with bids worth €60m and €45m respectively. Koné joined Roma from Borussia Mönchengladbach in August 2024 and has developed into a prominent midfielder under Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma’s reported valuation reflects both his importance to the Serie A leaders and the wider market for high-level central midfielders, rather than any confirmed agreement with an interested club.

Chelsea are said to retain interest in strengthening their midfield and could revisit Koné’s situation in a future transfer window. The reported asking price would represent a substantial increase on the bids rejected during the summer, with Roma citing recent midfield transfers to support their stance. Koné has also made a strong start to the current Serie A campaign, recording two goals in five appearances and earning a 7.3 rating in the assessment reported by OneFootball. For Roma, retaining a key starter is valuable both competitively and financially.

Juventus are reportedly considering a move for Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovačić in summer 2027, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The 32-year-old is said to have emerged as a target because his contract at the Etihad Stadium expires at the end of the season. Kovačić previously spent two years in Serie A with Inter before moving to Real Madrid in 2015, and Juventus are reportedly monitoring the possibility of signing him as a free agent. The club have already brought Douglas Luiz back from a loan at Aston Villa and signed Pape Matar Sarr temporarily from Tottenham.

The reported interest is linked to expected changes in Juventus’ midfield, with Teun Koopmeiners anticipated to leave the Allianz Stadium next June. Kovačić is being considered as a possible replacement, although the report describes a future target rather than a completed deal. His contractual position could make the move attractive to Juventus, particularly after the club hesitated over a permanent midfield signing during the last transfer window. Any approach would depend on his role at City and whether the Premier League club offers him a new contract.

AC Milan have been linked with a reported move for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, with Italian pundit Carlo Pellegatti claiming the defender will join the Serie A club “sooner or later”. Pellegatti made the assertion on his YouTube channel, while also referring to the possibility of Milan signing the Netherlands international either for a fee or as a free agent. Van Dijk’s Liverpool contract expires next summer, according to reports, placing his future among the issues that could shape the 2027 transfer market. The 36-year-old remains an established figure at Anfield.

The speculation has not amounted to a confirmed transfer agreement, but it has connected Milan with one of the most experienced defenders in European football. Sportskeeda also reported that Liverpool had identified Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven as a possible long-term successor, with a potential fee of up to £90m. That link illustrates the scale of the hypothetical change facing both clubs: Milan would pursue experience, while Liverpool would reportedly plan for a younger replacement. Van Dijk’s contract situation means the story is likely to continue through the season.

Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis has spoken about Celtic’s failed summer interest and left open the possibility of a future move. The 22-year-old Lithuania international said representatives had been in contact with the Scottish champions, but no agreement was reached and he remained in Turin. Gineitis recently provided an assist as Lithuania defeated Liechtenstein 2-0 in the Nations League, and his comments suggested that the proposed transfer remained a subject he considered while continuing with Torino.

Gineitis described Celtic as an interesting club and said he would consider a move if it benefited him, while stressing that he was currently focused on the team where he remains under contract. The midfielder’s remarks do not indicate that Torino are negotiating a new deal or that Celtic have made a fresh offer. They do, however, preserve a possible storyline for future windows after the Scottish side’s initial interest failed to produce a transfer. For Torino, keeping a young international midfielder maintains squad continuity while his situation attracts attention.