Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna is making aggressive moves in the transfer market, aiming to secure top talents to bolster Antonio Conte’s squad for both the current season and beyond. While the pursuit of Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei continues with a reported €15 million price tag, a new target has emerged: Edon Zhegrova, a player Manna has long admired.
Calciomercato report how Zhegrova, the 23-year-old Kosovan winger currently playing for Lille, has been on Manna’s radar for some time. The Italian director’s interest dates back to his tenure at Juventus, where he made several attempts to bring Zhegrova to Turin. However, those efforts were thwarted by Lille’s high valuation of the player.
This season, Zhegrova has been in impressive form, netting 8 goals and providing 2 assists in 21 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Champions League. His consistent growth and performance have only intensified Manna’s desire to secure his services for Napoli.
The timing of this renewed interest is significant. With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s situation at Napoli under close scrutiny, the club is considering a revamp of their attacking options. Additionally, Zhegrova’s contract with Lille is set to expire in June 2026, potentially opening a window for negotiation.
Manna has already made initial contact with Lille to explore the possibility of a deal. There were even suggestions of including Cyril Ngonge as part of a potential swap deal. However, Lille has responded with a firm rejection, maintaining their reputation for driving hard bargains even as players enter the final year of their contracts.
