Napoli remain confident of signing Benoit Badiashile after Chelsea raised their asking price for the France defender, who has become Massimiliano Allegri’s preferred solution to a growing injury crisis at centre-back.
According to ilnapolista, citing La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli have identified Badiashile as their priority target following the knee injury suffered by Alessandro Buongiorno. The Italy international is expected to be sidelined for three to four months after undergoing surgery.
The two clubs have already reached an agreement in principle over a loan deal worth €3m. However, negotiations are still focused on the possible permanent transfer at the end of the loan.
Chelsea initially wanted the deal to include an obligation for Napoli to buy Badiashile for €15m. The London club later accepted the possibility of a purchase option instead, but increased the proposed fee to between €18m and €20m as part of that change.
Napoli are attempting to reduce the figure as much as possible, although the gap between the clubs is understood to be small. The Italian side remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached.
Their position has been strengthened by the player’s reported desire to move to Naples. Badiashile is said to have turned down interest from another Premier League club because he wants to join Napoli.
Allegri is hoping the defender will be available when Napoli’s squad returns to training at Castel Volturno after Ferragosto. The timing of the negotiations reflects the club’s need to reinforce its defence before the start of the season.
Napoli’s options in central defence have been severely reduced by a series of injuries. Buongiorno is facing a lengthy spell out, while Sam Beukema is dealing with an Achilles problem. Luca Marianucci has also recently sustained a knee ligament injury.
Those absences have left Allegri short of centre-backs ahead of Napoli’s opening game of the campaign, increasing the urgency of the discussions with Chelsea. Badiashile’s potential arrival would give the manager an experienced option to help cover the defensive losses.
With only a relatively small financial difference still to resolve, and the player apparently keen on the move, Napoli are hopeful of completing a transfer that has quickly become an important necessity rather than a longer-term opportunity.
Chelsea’s decision to raise the asking price has added one final complication, but it has not undermined Napoli’s belief that the deal can be concluded. The clubs are continuing to work towards an agreement, with Badiashile currently at the centre of Allegri’s plans to rebuild his defence.
