Giacomo Raspadori is on the verge of joining Serie A giants Napoli after Sassuolo turned down bids from Premier League duo West Ham and Newcastle United, CEO Giovanni Carnevali tells Sport Mediaset.
He’s been a busy man this summer, Carnevali.
And, after presiding over more incomings and outgoings than a particularly busy rush hour at Heathrow Airport, Carnevali is now watching on as Italy international Raspadori packs his bags and brushes up on his Neopolitan, a move to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona potentially just days away.
According to Tuttosport, Newcastle failed with a £21 million bid for the diminutive sharpshooter back in January. West Ham made an offer of their own, per Calciomercato, before turning to Raspadori’s Sassuolo team-mate Gianluca Scamacca.
And while Napoli are yet to meet Carnevali’s £35 million asking price, there is a confidence that hands will be shaken. Potentially before the new Serie A season kicks off this weekend.
Sassuolo could sell Giacomo Raspadori to Napoli
“I hope that the deal for Raspadori is not far away,” admits Carnevali, reluctant to stand in Raspadori’s way.
“We would like everything to be finalised before the season (starts) one way or another. We have been talking for days with Napoli. Let’s see what we’ll do with them.
“We would gladly keep the player but we know he wants to go to a big club. He will go there under the right conditions. It is not an easy negotiation. There is a time in which we have to close it out, and it’s a few days, within this week at the most.”
Raspadori produced 10 goals and six assists for Sassuolo last term, after helping Italy win the European Championships at England’s expense during the summer of 2021.
“For technique and style of play, perhaps I am similar to (Sergio) Aguero,” says Raspadori, who shares the Man City legend’s stocky frame and instinctive finishing skills. “But those I studied the most are (Carlos) Tevez, (Antonio) Di Natale and also Paolo Rossi.”
Raspadori’s arrival should help offset the losses of Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne at Napoli.
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