Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna has flown to London for crucial transfer negotiations, aiming to finalize deals for two key targets: Billy Gilmour and Romelu Lukaku.
Calciomercato report how Manna is currently meeting with Brighton officials to finalize the transfer of Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour. The two clubs have reportedly agreed on a fee of €12 million plus €3 million in bonuses. Napoli is prepared to offer Gilmour a five-year contract with an annual salary of €2 million plus bonuses.
Once the Gilmour deal is concluded, Manna will shift his focus to negotiations with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku, a top priority for new Napoli manager Antonio Conte. However, there’s a significant gap between Napoli’s valuation and Chelsea’s asking price. Napoli is reportedly offering around €30 million, while Chelsea is holding firm at €43 million, which represents Lukaku’s release clause.
Complicating matters further, Chelsea prefers a permanent transfer, while Napoli, having not yet completed Victor Osimhen’s departure, are only proposing a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
These negotiations come on the heels of Napoli officially announcing the signing of David Neres, demonstrating the club’s ambition in the transfer market. The outcomes of Manna’s London meetings could significantly shape Napoli’s squad for the upcoming season under Conte’s leadership.
