Napoli have finally closed a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for defender Leo Østigard following weeks of negotiations between the two clubs.
That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who say the Italian side have ‘taken precautions’ in case they lose Kalidou Koulibaly by ‘closing the Leo Østigard operation’.
According to their information, Napoli are set to pay €5m plus ‘a couple of bonuses’ for the defender, but these will be divided over two years in terms of payments.
There is still no ‘definitive go ahead’ in terms of signed documents with Brighton, but the Seagulls have given their approval to the framing of the deal.
Napoli’s sports director Cristiano Giuntoli is now ‘accelerating’ his efforts to get a deal over the line so Østigard can join the squad for the second part of their pre-season retreat in Castel di Sangro from 23 July.
The Brighton man will join Napoli as their fourth centre-back option for the time being, but that could change if Koulibaly departs.
A decision about his future is yet to be made, but he is set to return from his holidays soon for discussions with Aurelio de Laurentiis over a possible transfer.
Should he depart, that could see Østigard moved up the pecking order, with Napoli keen to get him in before anything happens around Koulibaly.
