Napoli have opened talks with Brighton to acquire Leo Ostigard. The defender spent the second half of last season on loan to Genoa. He showed well even though his stint ended with his side getting relegated. He will be on the move again in the summer.
According to Sky, the Azzurri have offered €3M plus add-ons for the 22-year-old. The parties are discussing the bonuses and the percentage of a future sale, and the talks are rather advanced. The Norwegian center-back logged 14 appearances with the Grifone. He began his career in his home country, at Molde and Viking, and later played at St. Pauli, Coventry, and Stoke City on loan.
Ostigard would replace Axel Tuanzebe and fill out the Napoli defense. The Manchester United loanee has featured just twice since joining in January and will not be retained. Instead, the Partenopei have picked up their contractual option to keep Juan Jesus.
Despite the interest, the outfit has yet to receive credible offers for Kalidou Koulibaly, the publication reports. His price tag is substantial considering his age and the fact his deal expires in a year. There are serious chances he will leave on a free in 2023.
Our Take on Napoli Tracking Ostigard
Even though he played in a lowly team, the defender adapted quickly to his new surroundings and exhibited intriguing physical traits and grit. Napoli have struck oil with a similar signing in the recent past, Amir Rrahmani from Verona, and Ostigard could have the same kind of path, beginning as a backup and eventually taking over. That could be the case especially if the next one will indeed be Koulibaly’s final year with the Azzurri. Considering the low figures, there is little downside to the deal, and they need a fourth center-back.