Napoli are weighing a move to a back three for the October 10 home match against Frosinone, with Massimiliano Allegri reported to be considering a 3-4-2-1 as injuries continue to reshape his options. The shift would be a clear break from a back four, and it comes just days before Napoli return to Serie A action.
Scott McTominay is unlikely to start despite being cleared to train again on Wednesday, which underlines how careful Napoli must be with a player who had a procedure carried out on his heart at the start of September and then needed two weeks of complete rest. His return matters, but not enough to force him straight into the XI.
The timing explains why the search interest has picked up now. Napoli are trying to build a plan around a squad that is still missing several first-team pieces, and the reported 3-4-2-1 is being discussed as a response to that shortage rather than as a cosmetic tweak. Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Allegri was looking at the system for the visit of Frosinone on Saturday evening, with Rasmus Hojlund leading the attack and Kevin De Bruyne and David Neres in the supporting roles.
That reported shape would leave Napoli with Meret, Beukema, Rrahmani, Marin, Di Lorenzo, Gilmour, Lobotka, Spinazzola, De Bruyne, Neres and Hojlund, but it remains a possible setup rather than a confirmed lineup. Antonio Vergara is out for three to four weeks after being injured during the international break, Mathias Olivera returned from Uruguay duty with an injury issue, and Napoli are still without Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Alessandro Buongiorno and Alisson Santos. Those absences are what make the tactical switch feel less like an experiment and more like a necessity.
What happens next is straightforward: Napoli face Frosinone on October 10, and that is when the question gets answered on the field. If Allegri does go with the back three, it will tell the rest of Serie A that Napoli are choosing stability and cover over familiar shape while the injuries last.
