Napoli is making a bold move for Romelu Lukaku. On the same day they finalized the signing of Brescianini, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis sent a €25 million offer to Chelsea for Lukaku, along with an additional €5 million in bonuses. This urgency comes after a tough performance against Modena in the Coppa Italia and a review of Antonio Conte’s situation, pushing Napoli to act decisively to break out of a long stalemate.
The ball is now in Chelsea’s court, who had valued Lukaku at nearly €43 million. They will have to consider whether to accept Napoli’s proposal. De Laurentiis’s intention, previously hinted at during the team’s training camp in Castel di Sangro, is to pursue Lukaku swiftly, even before addressing the looming transfer of Victor Osimhen, who has become an awkward presence in the Napoli locker room.
Acquiring Lukaku is vital for Conte, who is in need of key players to complete his Napoli vision. This move also demonstrates the club’s desire to finalize deals early, rather than waiting for the last days of the transfer window. Lukaku is reportedly willing to lower his net salary from €7.5 million to €6 million to make the move to Napoli and reunite with Conte, who he worked successfully with at Inter Milan.
Chelsea, on the other hand, must tread carefully. If they reject Napoli’s offer, they risk creating internal issues within their squad, similar to the situation Conte faces with Osimhen at Napoli. Meanwhile, Lukaku is staying in shape, training in Cobham after his rigorous schedule in Belgium, eagerly awaiting news on his future.
There might even be unexpected help for the deal from Osimhen. A recent report from England suggests that Chelsea’s transfer for Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid has hit a snag, despite being close to completion. This shift could also open opportunities for players like Joao Felix or potentially Osimhen, further complicating the Lukaku situation.
On a separate note, today marks the arrival of Brescianini at Napoli. The former Frosinone midfielder, who had an impressive season last year with 36 appearances, 4 goals, and 2 assists, will arrive on loan with an obligation to buy, set to activate with Napoli’s first point in February. He is scheduled for medical examinations in Rome at Villa Stuart before joining his new teammates, who are returning to training at Castelvolturno today.
