Significant progress has been made in the negotiations to bring Brazilian winger David Neres from Benfica to Napoli, marking an essential step for manager Antonio Conte as he builds his team. Neres, who has fallen to a secondary role at Benfica following the arrival of Ángel Di María, has expressed his desire to move to Italy and quickly finalize the deal, having given his approval for the transfer.
The negotiations intensified yesterday with more direct communication between Neres’ representatives and Benfica officials. The estimated fee for Neres is around €25 million, and Conte is confident that he can help the player rediscover his best form, similar to what he showed during his time at Ajax in the Champions League. With exceptional attributes, Neres would join fellow attackers Kvaratskhelia and possibly Romelu Lukaku, enhancing Napoli’s attacking options significantly. Furthermore, Neres is excited about the prospect of playing in Italy and contributing to Napoli’s resurgence under Conte’s guidance, who is aware that integrating the player into the team’s style without stifling his creativity will be crucial.
While the Neres deal is progressing, Napoli is also working diligently to finalize the transfer of midfielder Billy Gilmour from Brighton. Gilmour has made it clear he is ready to leave Brighton, but negotiations are ongoing to meet the English club’s asking price. Initially, a fee of about €12-13 million seemed likely, but Brighton has raised their demand to nearly €20 million, which Napoli finds unacceptable. A compromise around €15 million is hoped to be reached soon to satisfy all parties involved.
In other transfer news, Napoli has made strides with negotiations for Frosinone midfielder Brescianini, with terms set for a loan deal worth €3 million and an obligation to buy for €7 million. Notably, AC Milan holds a 50% sell-on clause for the player. Brescianini is viewed positively by the club due to his tactical versatility. Additionally, a potential move for young center-back Iaccarino to Frosinone is on the table, though these two deals are not directly linked.
As Napoli upgrades their squad, they are also preparing to offload players. Midfielder Cajuste is set to join Brentford, with the announcement expected soon. Despite interest from several Serie A clubs, including Empoli and Genoa, Brentford’s offer of a loan with an obligation to buy for around €12 million has been deemed the most attractive option. There’s also ongoing discussion over Gaetano’s potential move to Parma, with a financial gap between the clubs’ offers and demands. Whether this will lead to Cagliari re-entering the picture remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the situation regarding star striker Victor Osimhen continues to be a topic of speculation, yet that will be covered separately.
