Former Leeds United goalkeeper Elia Caprile is already being tipped for a big move to Serie A leaders Napoli just four months after leaving the Premier League outfit, via Italian agent Mario Giuffredi on Radio Marte.
If it wasn’t for the presence of a certain 6ft 6ins Frenchman, perhaps Caprile would be fighting for a starting spot under Jesse Marsch at Elland Road these days. With Meslier firmly established as Leeds’ number one, however, the 21-year-old Italian had little choice but to embark upon a return to his home country in pursuit of regular first team football,
And he’s certainly found it in Bari.
Caprile, who left Leeds in July after just two years with the West Yorkshire outfit, has started every one of Bari’s Serie B matches so far in 2022/23, conceding just 15 times in 13 outings while producing some truly virtuoso performances between the sticks. His ‘goalkeeper of miracles’ nickname exists for a reason.
And the promotion-chasing side could soon be celebrating a major profit. Caprile could join one of the most in-form teams on the continent after just four months in Bari.
Could former Leeds United goalkeeper Elia Caprile join Serie A giants Napoli?
“Who will (Napoli director) Cristiano Giuntoli buy in January? He will take some players like Elia Caprile, the goalkeeper,” says Giuffredi; representative of many of Napoli stars, including captain Giovanni de Lorenzo.
“If I were at Napoli, now, I would focus on (contract) renewals, with the intention of closing them before the resumption of the league and thus giving everyone peace of mind. If you win the Scudetto and you haven’t tied everyone up, the contracts will cost you more.
“I would only think about this.”
Napoli are eight points clear at the top, winning 13 and drawing two of their 15 league games. They are likely to receive enquiries for many of their Scudetto-chasing stars in January; with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Kim Min Jae already attracting plenty of interest.
From West Yorkshire to Southern Italy?
At least Leeds, according to Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, had the sense to include a 50 per cent sell-on clause in Caprile’s signature. As such, if Bari were to sell the ‘keeper for £10 million, Leeds would receive half of that.
Leeds, meanwhile, are looking to reinforce at both ends of the pitch in January.
“We’ve spoken a bit (about transfers),” Marsch admits. “We have targets. In order to achieve our goals, we want to continue to look at every position. And think about how we can move forward in the right way.
“We talked enough about the striker position in the summer. And I don’t think that that’s gone away. I think we’re active, we’ve been active.”
Cody Gakpo is one target, with Raphael Guerreiro also on the radar. Gakpo, however, is likely to cost a club-record fee of £40 million.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
