Lazio could offer Napoli winger Matteo Politano an escape route from the Diego Maradona Stadium, having already established contact with the Partenopei. Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla reports Maurizio Sarri sees the 29-year-old as an upgrade on his current attacking options and hopes to close a deal quickly.
Negotiations with Napoli bigwig Aurelio De Laurentiis are never pleasant, let alone quick. He has pinned a €15 million price tag on Politano’s shoulders, plus he may command an additional €2m in add-ons. While that’s not a hefty price for a Premier League club, it could be enough to blow Lazio out of the water.
Politano’s influence within the Napoli squad has dwindled following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s arrival last summer. The Georgian’s stunning form in south Italy has made the Italian forward tumble down the pecking order. But he still was a decent option in rotation under Luciano Spalletti during the title-winning 2022/23 season.
Napoli won’t oppose Politano’s departure, but only if they receive a satisfying bid. With the price set up by De Laurentiis, it’s a ‘take it or leave it’ situation for Lazio. However, Napoli’s demands are still far more acceptable for the Biancocelesti than Sassuolo’s request for Domenico Berardi.
Berardi had been Sarri’s preferable choice before the Neroverdi let the Lazio head coach know about a €30m asking price. Therefore, he’s now plotting a move for Politano. The only obstacle in a deal could be the winger’s history with fierce rivals Roma as he graduated from the Giallorossi academy.
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