Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur before Jose Mourinho’s side set their sights on Carlos Vinicius instead, Italian journalist Ciro Troise told Canale21, via AreaNapoli24.
When your club manages to keep hold of their star striker after months of ceaseless speculation, that is usually good news.
But not as far as Napoli are concerned.
As you might have heard, Milik has just eight months remaining on his £60,000-a-week contract, and the Poland international has shown little interest in signing an extension.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso, owner Aurelio de Laurentiis and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli all confirmed that Milik was up for sale. But, by the time the window slammed shut at 11:00pm, the former Ajax striker was still sitting pretty in Southern Italy.
Napoli were hoping to rake in £23 million – a fee Tottenham were willing to pay in mid-September (Gazzetta dello Sport).
But, according to a man well-versed with the comings and goings at the Stadio San Paolo, Milik would prefer to see out his contract at Napoli and leave for free; much to the frustration of everyone at the Serie A giants.
“At this point, he prefers to stay and sign on a free transfer for another team in a few months,” Troise says.
“Napoli tried to advise him but Milik did not agree to leave, refusing everyone, including Tottenham who, only later, went to Vinicius.”
Milik also saw potential moves to Juventus and Roma fall through, while links to Everton, Newcastle, Arsenal and Fulham came to nothing.
Tottenham, meanwhile, ended their striker search by signing 2019/20 Primeira Liga Golden Boot winner Carlos Vinicius on loan from Benfica.
Tottenham Hotspur’s record signings
- Tanguy Ndombele
£56 million
- Davinson Sanchez
£42 million
- Moussa Sissoko
£30 million
- Erik Lamela
£29 million
- Steven Bergwijn
£25 million
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