Everton prepare big Lorenzo Insigne offer amid Napoli contract uncertainty
Everton are readying a big bid for Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne, according to online Italian news outlet Calciomercato.
Insigne, 30, has spent his entire career on the books of the Serie A side, scoring over 114 goals in 411 appearances, while he spent time on loan at Cavese, Foggia and Pescara in his earlier days.
He scored 19 goals in 34 Serie A outings last season and has four in 11 this season, but his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2022 [Transfermarkt], and he is yet to pen new terms as uncertainty grows over his future [Tuttosport].
Everton want to take advantage of that and offer him a “super” offer of £5.1million net per season and £6million for his signature and image rights, with Rafa Benitez waiting in the wings for his Napoli exit.
Such sums are also available to PSG, as per the report, with the action expected to hot up as the January transfer window draws nearer.
Star quality
On the one hand, this has all the makings of a disastrous signing akin to James Rodriguez.
Insigne is a player, just like Rodriguez, who has lit up Europe with his performances over the last decade, but he is entering the latter years of his playing days, or at least beginning to reach his peak levels.
As such, there may be apprehension over whether he is just looking for one final payday.
However, the main difference between Insigne and Rodriguez is that the former is still performing at a high level, and has the fitness to match.
He is also well known to Benitez, who managed him during his spell as Napoli manager.
Ideally, Everton would sign a younger winger, such a Porto’s Luis Diaz, who was heavily linked during the summer.
But if the Blues have to save on transfer fees in some areas in order to address the central areas of the pitch, namely central midfield and in the centre of defence, then Insigne could prove a smart deal.
In other Everton news, Roy Keane has pointed to the Blues as a big example in a passionate Sky Sports rant.
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