Serie A giants Napoli are reportedly keen on signing Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by TransferMarketWeb, Luka Jovic is the subject of interest from Napoli. The Serie A heavyweights are set to make an approach to sign the Serbian striker, who has struggled to settle down at Real Madrid, in the summer transfer window.
Jovic joined Real Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer in a €60 million deal. Coming on the back of a stunning season with the Bundesliga outfit, wherein he scored 27 goals in 48 outings across all competitions, expectations were invariably high.
However, Jovic has failed to stamp his authority at Real Madrid, starting a mere eight games in all competitions so far. While Karim Benzema’s exploits have undoubtedly made it tough for Jovic to stake a claim for a regular role in the first-team, the Serb himself has been uninspiring when given a chance.
His struggles have, in turn, given way to widespread speculation over his future at the Bernabeu. The latest such rumour suggests that Jovic has piqued the interest of Serie A giants Napoli, with a move away from Real Madrid a possibility.
Napoli are currently in a perilous situation as far as Dries Mertens’s future is concerned. The Belgian international, who recently equalled the all-time goalscoring record for the Partenopei, is in the final few months of his current contract at San Paolo and it is unclear if he will stick around at the club post the summer.
While Napoli are intent on tying the 32-year-old down to a new deal, there has been little movement on that front. If Mertens leaves, Arkadiusz Milik and backup striker Fernando Llorente will remain the only strikers at Gennaro Gattuso’s disposal, although Hirving Lozano and Lorenzo Insigne can also play through the middle.
Nevertheless, the Serie A giants will need to bolster their options upfront, making Jovic a viable target despite his Real Madrid struggles. Jovic’s exploits at Frankfurt suggest that he could be a gamble worth taking, although with five years still left in his deal with Real Madrid, Napoli might have to pay over the top to acquire his services.
For now, Jovic’s future at Real Madrid looks bleak, with his struggles not looking like they are going to end anytime soon. It now remains to be seen if Napoli are indeed serious with their interest in the Serb and if a summer move will see the light of the day.