Arkadiusz Milik plans to leave Napoli during the January transfer window amid reported interest from Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, director Cristiano Giuntoli told Sky, via Football Italia.
This is far from a bombshell of course.
Milik has not kicked a ball in anger this season and, with his place in Poland’s European Championship squad under threat, the winter window represents the last opportunity for a former Ajax striker to play again before the summer.
Furthermore, Napoli are understandably desperate to find a buyer for the 26-year-old Milik, with his contract due to expire in July 2021.
A mid-season departure, then, feels like the best solution for every party.
“The transfer window is an issue for everyone. We have a striker that many clubs would like to have, so we will wait and see what happens,” Giuntoli explained.
“Milik wants to go and play so he can be ready for the Euros. That is what he wants. I don’t think we will sign anyone, as the squad is complete, so we’ll only sell a couple.
“Milik and (Fernando) Llorente? It could be.”
Tottenham and Everton were both linked earlier this year and, according to Tuttomercatoweb, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti could go head-to-head for Milik’s signature again in January.
Goodison Park may be the ideal destination, given that Cenk Tosun has failed to provide any sort of competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in Ancelotti’s starting XI.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have Carlos Vinicius in reserve, although the Benfica loanee has had a mixed start to life in North London.
AreaNapoli believe that Milik, who played under Ancelotti at the Stadio San Paolo until December 2019, will be available for a cut-price fee of £14 million.
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