Regardless of what has been said of late about Napoli focusing on Ko Itakura as they seek to replace Kim Min-jae, Max Kilman continues to be their number one target.
This is what Corriere dello Sport are reporting on Monday, as they look at the recent rumours regarding the Serie A side turning their attention to the Japan international after Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected their first bid for their towering centre-back.
The €35m bid put forward by the Italians was turned down, with Wolves wanting €40m, but that’s a fee Aurelio De Laurentiis is reluctant to match.
Corriere, after making it clear that Itakura would be far cheaper than Kilman, do point out the Napoli owner will ‘not go’ over €35m for the former Maidenhead United man.
Despite that, it’s said that if Wolves ‘by an act of good will’ decided to ‘limit their economic aspirations’ for the centre-back, then the next purchase ‘would become Kilman’.
This generous change of heart is something the Serie A side seem to be really hoping for, because it’s clear from the above line that the 26-year-old remains their number one target.
In the meantime, Napoli continue to look at alternatives to the Wolves man, which is where the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender has come in, available for as little as €15m.
They haven’t met that yet, likely holding on to that thin straw of hope that Julen Lopetegui’s side will change their mind regarding the Spaniard’s favourite.
