Napoli are prioritising signing Bologna winger Dan Ndoye over a move for Jadon Sancho as the Italian champions only want to take the Manchester United star on loan, according to reports.
Ndoye, 24, has been a long-term target at Old Trafford after the Red Devils made attempts to sign the Swiss international last summer.
He has enjoyed an impressive season in Italy, returning eight goals and four assists in 30 Sere A appearances, while scoring the winner in the final of Coppa Italia against AC Milan.
Napoli identified Ndoye as a potential replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after the Georgian’s departure to Paris-Saint Germain in January but were unable to close a deal.
The Neapolitan club also expressed interest in signing Alejandro Garnacho at the same time but were deterred by United’s asking price in the winter window, worth as high as 70 million.
But Napoli executives, led by sporting director Giovanni Manna, are now ready to return for Ndoye.
But they are also keeping tabs on Atalanta talisman Ademola Lookman, Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, and Sancho as alternatives should Bologna prove difficult to negotiate with, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
United are desperate to shift Sancho this summer with the 25-year-old winger’s exorbitant contract – worth in excess of 250,000 a week – expiring next summer, though the club retain the option to extend this by twelve months.
The Red Devils are pushing for a permanent departure for the troublesome player whose 73 million move for Borussia Dortmund in 2021 ranks highly along a long list of expensive mistakes at Old Trafford in recent memory.
Fabrizio Romano reveals, “Manchester United will give priority to selling Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal before opening doors to loans. Napoli are among clubs keen but not intentioned to pay his current salary, early stages – and more clubs in the race.”
Romano states the Serie A winners are unwilling to match Sancho’s wage demands but, crucially, that they are “interested in a loan,” rather than a permanent deal. He reveals Napoli are willing to “wait” to force United’s hand later in the window.
This supports La Gazzetta dello Sport’scontention that Sancho is simply the back-up to first-choice target, Ndoye, at the Diego Armanda Maradona Stadium this summer.
Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
