Napoli icon Salvatore Bagni is backing the Serie A champions’ pursuit of Leander Dendoncker with the Aston Villa benchwarmer expected to leave the Premier League high-flyers in the final week of the January transfer window.
After slipping further and further down the pecking order under Unai Emery, Leander Dendoncker could have been forgiven for pinching himself when Napoli came calling.
OK, the Scudetto holders have fallen off a proverbial cliff this season – Walter Mazzarri’s return failing to spark a revival after the dismal Rudi Garcia era – but Dendoncker appears understandably keen to seize such an opportunity with both hands, the Belgium international swapping the Aston Villa bench to a Champions League knockout clash with Barcelona.
Aston Villa man could make shock Napoli switch
HITC Football understands that Dendoncker, who joined Villa from Midland neighbours Wolves in a £13 million deal in 2022, is expected to join Napoli on loan with an option-to-buy clause in his contract.
“I like him,” Bagni, part of the Napoli side who won the league and cup double alongside Diego Maradona in 1987, tells Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He is a midfielder who knows what to do with the ball at his feet. I’ve been following him since he was an interesting prospect in Belgium’s youth team. He’s not just a defensive midfielder, but something more.
“The only doubt I have is linked to the fact that he hasn’t had much space at Aston Villa. He could suffer as a result.”
Having started only one Premier League game under Emery this season, it may take Dendoncker some time to get up to speed in Southern Italy. The former Anderlecht enforcer can take plenty of inspiration from the success of Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa, however. The one-time Fulham flop has played perhaps the best football of his career in the baby blue of Napoli.
Serie A champions eye Dendoncker and Orel Mangala
Mazzarri’s side are also keen on Nottingham Forest’s press-resistant playmaker Orel Mangala. It remains to be seen, however, if there is space in the Napoli squad for both Dendoncker and his City Ground-based compatriot.
“Mangala could do well. He has a great desire to come to Italy. And, in the right conditions, he can give vital support to Napoli,” agent Enrico Sposato tells Radio CRC. “Napoli’s attempt is real and there’s a chance to find a solution.
“The lad appreciates Italy and Napoli, and knows many players at the club. At the moment, (the talks have) stalled. But anything can happen, anytime.”
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