NAPOLI FACE SPANISH COMPETITION FOR DEULOFEU
Italian Serie A heavyweights Napoli are reportedly facing competition from Spanish La Liga for Udinese star Gerard Deulofeu. The Spanish international winger is attracting the interest of Napoli and other teams this summer with the player set to leave Udinese this summer. The report from Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo stated that two La Liga teams are also keen on signing Deulofeu from Udinese. Real Sociedad and Villarreal are the two Spanish La Liga teams interested in signing Deulofeu from Udinese.
Napoli fans thought they had Deulofeu in the bag with several reports claiming that the Partenopei are closing in on a deal for the former Everton and Barcelona winger. Napoli have already agreed personal terms with Deulofeu with the Spaniard set to earn €2m on a yearly basis excluding bonuses if his transfer to Napoli goes through.
Udinese and Napoli are yet to agree a deal for Deulofeu. It has been reported that Udinese have turned down an initial transfer fee of €13m for Deulofeu. Udinese won't mind a bidding war for the Spaniard with the likes of Villarreal and Real Sociedad joining Napoli in the race to sign Deulofeu.
28-year-old Deulofeu has been one of the best players at Udinese since the start of last year. The Spanish player scored 13 goals and provided five assists in 34 Italian Serie A games this season. Apart from Real Sociedad, Napoli and Villarreal, West Ham United and Italian champions AC Milan have also been linked with the forward. He could return to Milan where he played as an Everton loanee in 2017.
Deulofeu has been at Udinese since the Italian top flight side paid €17m to sign him permanently from Watford after an initial loan move. He has two years left on his current contract with Udinese and the Italians are not keen to let him leave on the cheap.