Napoli “offered €60m for Alisson Becker and €50m for Federico Chiesa,” while Aurelio De Laurentiis narrowed down the list of goalkeepers.
The President gave a wide-ranging interview with the Corriere dello Sport newspaper, in which he covered various transfer dealings coming up this summer.
He also insisted that fans shouldn’t complain he hasn’t been active when the Partenopei have tried to make big-money swoops.
Napoli “offered €60m for Alisson Becker and €50m for Federico Chiesa,” while Aurelio De Laurentiis narrowed down the list of goalkeepers.
The President gave a wide-ranging interview with the Corriere dello Sport newspaper, in which he covered various transfer dealings coming up this summer.
He also insisted that fans shouldn’t complain he hasn’t been active when the Partenopei have tried to make big-money swoops.
“I went to dinner with (Fiorentina President) Diego Della Valle and offered €50m for Chiesa, but he told me it was impossible, that if the player was sold there would be a revolution in the streets of Florence.
“I told him to keep me in mind if one day Chiesa should be sold. I am sure that Diego would never do me a disservice, even if I understand he could forget amid the chaos.
“I can confirm that I wanted to buy Alisson from Roma for €60m, but it wasn’t possible and now his sale has become a bidding war.”
Alisson is widely reported to be heading for Real Madrid, but Roma are holding out for €80m, even after the goalkeeper agreed personal terms with the Merengues.
Napoli need a goalkeeper after Pepe Reina left at the end of his contract and joined Milan as a free agent.
Many names have been mentioned, but President De Laurentiis narrowed the field.
“The goalkeeper is not an obsession for us, but for the media. I want to make Ancelotti happy, first and foremost. I really like Alex Meret, but when you go to (Udinese patrons) the Pozzo family, you know the price-tags become illogical.
“Alphonse Areola is very talented, as are others. Keylor Navas has experience. But Napoli are by no means in a hurry.”
Areola is the 25-year-old goalkeeper of Paris Saint-Germain, who risks being pushed to the sidelines by the imminent arrival of Gianluigi Buffon.
If Alisson does join Real Madrid, it’ll inevitably send Costa Rica international Navas on to new challenges and Napoli would be an intriguing fit for the 31-year-old.
A third alternative is represented by Meret, one of the Italian heirs to Buffon’s crown.
Owned by Udinese, 21-year-old Meret spent the last two seasons on loan with SPAL, helping them first to promotion from Serie B and then to remain in the top flight.
Meret has also been linked with Roma, should Alisson leave for Real Madrid.