Aston Villa are keen on signing Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku this summer. The Villans’ efforts have been made difficult because the striker favours a move to Napoli.
On August 10th, we covered claims from Italy that the Villans can meet Chelsea’s demand. It was also said Aston Villa aren’t willing to give up despite his desire to join the Serie A side.
Four days later, Corriere dello Sport stated Unai Emery’s side are ready to pay €20m more than Napoli to sign the 31-year-old.
Journalist Ciro Venerato, relayed by CalcioNapoli24 now claims Antonio Conte is working to stop Aston Villa from snatching Lukaku away from the Naples club’s clutches.
The Belgium international has played under Conte at Inter Milan, and the Italian is keen on reuniting with him at Napoli. The journalist says Conte has asked the player ‘not to go’ to Aston Villa.
Four days ago, the Napoli manager personally made an approach, in order ‘to block Lukaku’s transfer to Aston Villa’. CalcioNapoli24 state this was confirmed to the journalist by agent Federico Pastorello.
“But at the same time. Aurelio De Laurentiis was clear with Conte, he told him that Lukaku would set foot in Campania and that a second later he would sell Osimhen,” he said.
Napoli are running out of time and will have step up if they want to sign the Chelsea player.