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Napoli’s want for attacking reinforcements has turn into a serious precedence as they put together for subsequent season’s Champions League marketing campaign. With Victor Osimhen anticipated to depart in the summertime and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia already having moved on, the membership is targeted on figuring out a striker able to main the road in each home and European competitors.

In line with , Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has been working for months to make sure the squad is ready for the elevated calls for of competing on a number of fronts. The expectation is that a minimum of seven new signings will arrive in the summertime, with the first focus being the attacking division.

Two names have emerged as key targets—Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca and Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund. Each are seen as thrilling, younger choices with the potential to develop into the function, however their worth tags and circumstances differ considerably.

Lucca and Højlund on Napoli’s Radar

Manna has outlined a transparent profile for Napoli’s subsequent striker: younger, hungry, and with a pure intuition for scoring objectives. That standards has led the membership to discover two vastly completely different alternatives.

Lorenzo Lucca has loved a powerful season at Udinese and is predicted to maneuver to a much bigger membership in the summertime. After spending time at Ajax, the place he largely watched from the sidelines within the Champions League, he’s eager to take the following step in his profession and set up himself as a daily within the Italian nationwide workforce.

However, Rasmus Højlund’s state of affairs is extra sophisticated. Signed by Manchester United from Atalanta for €75 million plus €10 million in bonuses in 2023, the Danish striker has struggled for consistency at Outdated Trafford. Regardless of flashes of brilliance, he has scored simply three Premier League objectives this season, although he has been more practical within the Europa League, the place he has discovered the online 5 occasions in ten appearances.

Manchester United are open to promoting Højlund, largely on account of their monetary state of affairs. Nonetheless, their valuation stays a big hurdle. With a view to keep away from making a monetary loss on the participant, United are demanding a minimal of €60 million—a worth that’s thought-about unrealistic for a Serie A membership.

Exploratory Talks Underway

At this stage, discussions round Højlund are described as exploratory. Napoli have an interest, however they might want to see whether or not United are prepared to barter a decrease charge. With the Premier League membership in monetary issue and trying to rebalance their squad, there’s a perception that they could soften their stance nearer to the summer time window.

For Napoli, signing Højlund would signify an bold transfer, however the monetary problem might push them in the direction of a less expensive possibility. That’s the place Lucca is available in.

Lucca Stays the Major Goal

Regardless of their curiosity in Højlund, Napoli’s precedence stays Lorenzo Lucca. The membership had thought-about signing him final summer time as a backup possibility for Romelu Lukaku, and their admiration has solely grown in latest months.

In line with Calciomercato, there have already been discussions between Napoli and Udinese, and negotiations might speed up within the coming weeks. Udinese worth the striker at between €35 million and €40 million, whereas Napoli imagine that securing a ‘Champions League-level’ ahead would require an funding of a minimum of €30 million.

Lucca suits completely into Napoli’s imaginative and prescient. He’s younger, extremely regarded in Italian soccer, and has a wage that aligns with the membership’s wage construction. Presently incomes €250,000 per season at Udinese, a transfer to Napoli would see his wages quadruple—one thing that might make the transfer much more interesting to the participant.

Supervisor Antonio Conte can also be mentioned to be a powerful admirer of Lucca’s qualities. The 23-year-old ahead’s profile as a bodily dominant striker with robust technical skill makes him a superb match for Napoli’s tactical setup.

The expectation is that Napoli will proceed their pursuit of Lucca within the coming weeks, with a deal probably being concluded earlier than the summer time switch window formally opens.

Our View – EPL Index Evaluation

The suggestion that Rasmus Højlund may very well be offloaded after only one season is met with scepticism. Whereas his performances within the Premier League have been inconsistent, writing off a 21-year-old striker after only one marketing campaign appears untimely.

United’s monetary struggles are well-documented, and there’s no doubt that the membership might want to offload gamers this summer time to adjust to Monetary Truthful Play rules. Nonetheless, promoting a participant who was introduced in as a long-term venture—particularly for a charge considerably decrease than what was paid—would sign a scarcity of strategic imaginative and prescient.

Højlund’s uncooked expertise is obvious. His performances in Europe counsel that, with the suitable tactical setup, he has the potential to develop right into a top-class striker. If Napoli are really , United ought to maintain agency on their valuation moderately than dashing right into a deal that may very well be regretted later.

Furthermore, there’s little assure that Napoli will probably be prepared to fulfill United’s asking worth. Serie A golf equipment, even the highest ones, hardly ever spend €60 million on a single signing. Until United are prepared to considerably scale back their calls for, this transfer appears unlikely.