Napoli are reportedly determined to complete the signing of highly-rated Sassuolo forward Giacomo Raspadori by the end of the summer. As per Calciomercato, the two sides met on Friday to discuss the Italian’s switch to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Raspadori has already agreed to join Napoli on a multi-year contract. The Partenopei have prepared a five-year contract for the 22-year-old worth around 2.5m per season. But it is now up to Sassuolo to decide whether they want to renounce another senior first-team star this summer.
After offloading Giacomo Scamacca to West Ham United for almost 40m, the Neroverdi do not need to sell another player. Therefore, the Emilia-Romagna outfit will continue to play hardball on Raspadori’s price tag. Sassuolo reportedly ask for 40m to allow Raspadori to leave.
On the other hand, Napoli are unwilling to go beyond 30m to complete the deal. There is still a sizeable gap between Aurelio De Laurentiis’ bid and Sassuolo’s requests. However, talks are ongoing as Raspadori wants to join Luciano Spalletti’s side.
Napoli boss Spalletti has made the youngster one of his priorities to replace Dries Mertens or Lorenzo Insigne. The Partenopei are ready to include out-of-favour winger Adam Ounas as a makeweight in a deal to bring Raspadori to southern Italy.
He enjoyed a phenomenal season at the Mapei Stadium in 2021/22, netting ten goals and laying on six assists in 36 Serie A appearances last term. His versatility and tactical prowess have caught the eye of Spalletti, with Napoli hellbent on quenching their manager’s thirst for a new top-class forward.