In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Willy Kambwala has reportedly found himself on Napoli’s summer shortlist.
The reigning Serie A champions are yet to find a suitable successor for highly-rated talent Kim Min-jae, who left the club on a £43 million – his release clause – move to Bayern Munich in July 2023.
Min-jae had played an integral role in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning campaign, which saw them end a 33-year wait to lift the trophy after finishing 16 points clear atop the table.
While the side’s drop in form is, of course, not entirely down to his exit, they now sit seventh-placed and a remarkable 34 points away from leaders Inter Milan. They’ve conceded 38 goals thus far (31 matches) – a vast drop-off from last term when they conceded just 28 times in 38 games.
Italian giants plan Kambwala pursuit
As such, bringing a stalwart centre-half to bolster the backline seems like a non-negotiable for Napoli in the next transfer window, and Italian outlet Dot Sport claims that Kambwala has caught Aurelio De Laurentiis’ eye.
The article reveals that Napoli will ‘try to start a negotiation’ with Manchester United in hopes of reaching an agreement for their academy graduate. However, other reports have suggested that the Reds are so impressed with Kambwala’s mature showings, that they’re preparing a bumper contract offer to seal his long-term future at Old Trafford.
Therefore, any prospect of a permanent deal is almost entirely impossible. A loan may come up in conversations, but given the role he’s already played in deputising for his senior counterparts this campaign, a temporary transfer is also highly unlikely.
