in an crazy attempt to explain the current situation regarding transfer dealings i think there is the chance that the board does think that there are no really good defenders available on the market, so they try to get players that do offer us more than just a defender we probably overpay for.
in fact a good player that does not exactly have to be defensive minded can help preventing conceding goals. hell, even a forward could do that (under certain circumstances).
if ferrara thinks there are no good defenders available that would fit in his system, then so be it. please stop always knowing better than the people actually in charge.
many of you welcomed ferrara as coach, so please respect his plans and don't always act like you would know better, because you don't.
i don't think ferrara is told by the board that he is not getting the players he wishes (defenders for example), because secco likes midfielders so much. that is ridiculous.