Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has asked Lorenzo Insigne to stay amid reported interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, speaking to Sky Italia, via CalcioNews24.
At this stage in his career, Napoli’s 5ft 4in pocket rocket is entering something akin to Arjen Robben territory.
Nine times out of ten, you know what Insigne is going to do when he gets on the ball. Stopping him, however, is another matter entirely.
As Insigne skipped and scythed his way through Belgium’s midfield before cutting inside and bending a picture perfect shot into the top corner with his ruthless right boot, Roberto Martinez’s side became the latest victim of one of European football’s most devastating party tricks.
Many of Insigne’s 109 Napoli goals were rattled home in similar style.
Whether he adds to that tally – the 30-year-old is just six away from overtaking the legendary Diego Maradona in the club’s all-time list – remains to be seen.
Will Euro 2020 star Insigne move to Arsenal or Tottenham?
Insigne has just 12 months left on his contract and, according to Il Mattino, that hasn’t gone unnoticed at Arsenal, Tottenham or Chelsea.
Liverpool are also interested in a player Jurgen Klopp described as “outstanding” in 2019.
But, having only recently replaced Gennaro Gattuso in the Napoli hot seat, Spalletti is keen to avoid losing his star man and captain just weeks into his new job.
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“I speak well of Insigne, I spoke to him on the phone (and) congratulated him after a goal scored in the national team,” said the former Roma and Inter Milan coach.
“I told him I would like to take this journey with him by my side.”
Insigne, who was described as “world class” by mentor Maurizio Sarri, is reported to be demanding £4.3 million a year (£70,000 a week) to extend his stay at the Stadio San Paolo (AreaNapoli).
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, however, is unwilling to meet those demands as things stand – and he’s certainly no pushover.
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