Napoli have reportedly made contact to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, but there is a gap in valuation between the two clubs.
That’s according to this morning’s update from CalcioMercato, who claim that the two clubs have been in contact with the subject being the availability of the 27-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Villarreal and was very impressive in La Liga.
The problem is that, as things stand, the two clubs have different ideas about the player.
Spurs, who signed Lo Celso for £55 million from Real Betis, are reportedly wanting to sell the player who has struggled in England.
Napoli want to bring the player in on loan with an option to buy the player further down the line.
There is a gap in valuation too, with Spurs demanding £21 million but Napoli are only willing to offer £12 million for the 27-year-old Argentine, so there will need to be a compromise from either the English club or the Italian club.
According to the same report, Napoli’s loan offer doesn’t appeal much to Spurs. The Italian side wants to only pay a portion of his loan fee and a smaller fee as an option at the end of the player’s year loan.
With two goals and three assists for Villarreal last season and exceptional passing statistics according to FBREF, it’s easy to see why there’s interest from clubs in Italy for the 27-year-old.
With 7.75 progressive passes per 90 minutes for the 2021 Europa League winners and 2.80 progressive carries per 90, Lo Celso is the ideal midfielder for any top European side.
Napoli will be in the market for midfield reinforcements after fellow Serie A side Lazio placed an €18 million (£15 million) offer for the Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinski, according to CalcioMercato.
Napoli, however, are holding out for €30 million (£25 million) and may use the money they receive from Lazio, who lost Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, to sign Lo Celso.
