Serie A side Napoli braced for Man Utd’s £44m clause activating bid for defender
Drew Bartle Head Sports Editor
Napoli who have run Juventus close for the Serie A title all-season in Italy are bracing themselves for a squad exodus, with the latest name to be linked to departing being right-back Elseid Hysaj. The Albanian international has a £44m release-clause this summer and that’s got Man United’s attention, according to the Sun.
Having enjoyed a campaign as the first choice right back at Napoli, making 46 appearances for the club in all competitions, he has been an integral member of the squad since arriving from Empoli back in 2015 – going on to become one of Europe’s finest full-backs.
Man United are, again according to the Sun, set to let current right-back Matteo Darmian leave Old Trafford in the summer for Juventus, freeing up space for a new signing and a player that Jose Mourinho has obvious admiration for. Additionally, the good news for United fans is that at just 24-years old, Elseid Hysaj could be a United player for potentially the next decade.
Napoli have seriously impressed this season and having performed so well, they are now set to lose key players to clubs challenging for titles and European success. Jorginho and and Dries Mertens are two other key figures in the squad that are drawing wanting eyes across the continent. Success on the field for the club is likely to come back and bite them in the transfer window if the number of transfer rumours all come to fruition.
The Sun’s article states that Hysaj, should he leave for £44m, will become the seventh most expensive defender of all-time. The most expensive, and way out in front is Virgin van Dijk who joined Liverpool for £75m back in January, while Manchester City have four of the most expensive defenders on the list, including John Stones from Everton and Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao.
