Napoli will demand at least £26m to sell Lorenzo Insigne this summer, per Corriere dello Sport, amid interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Insigne continues to pose a great concern for Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, as they continue to lock horns over a new contract. The Italy winger believes he is due a pay rise on his current terms, but the Azzurri chief cannot meet his demands.
The financial crisis brought on by the pandemic has left De Laurentiis having to trim the wage bill, rather than increase it. Yet Insigne believes he should be earning more than the €5m-a-year (£83k-p/w) he currently makes, on terms that will expire next summer.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are all paying close attention to Insigne’s uncertain future at Napoli. RAI journalist Paolo Paganini has even told Arena Napoli that Spurs have made an important offer for the Euro 2020 winner.
Italian publication Il Mattino had previously reported Arsenal and Chelsea were rivalling Tottenham for Insigne, as well. While Fabio Santini also suggested Liverpool were challenging Atletico Madrid for the 30-year-old’s services.
Now, either of the Premier League trio, or their rival suitors, can sign the Napoli captain for only €30m (£26m). And the Azzurri may even accept just €25m (£21.5m) as an initial fee, with the rest paid in future bonuses.
Selling Insigne is one of three options De Laurentiis must consider, however. The second is he and Insigne find a compromise over a new contract to stay at Napoli. Or thirdly, the Azzurri accept he will not agree new terms and keep the winger until he leaves for free.
Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool can solve Napoli’s Insigne crisis
Either Arsenal, Tottenham or Liverpool would be able to help Napoli solve their crisis by signing Insigne this summer. An initial £21.5m fee for a player of his quality is unlikely to rock the boat in north London or on Merseyside.
Insigne is fresh off of helping Italy win Euro 2020 with two goals at the tournament. He also netted 19 times and struck seven assists in 35 Serie A appearances last season. It marked the 47-cap dynamo’s most lethal campaign of his career and fourth-most creative so far.
Gunners legend Ray Parlour was also taken back by his efforts at the European Championship. He told talkSPORT: “Insigne is a real livewire. He gets on the ball, he runs at you, he is an excellent little player.”
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