Napoli: Conte approves Guendouzi move, Lotito sets January price | OneFootball

Napoli continues to carefully plan for the January transfer market and, among the names being monitored to strengthen the midfield, the candidacy of Matteo Guendouzi, midfielder for Lazio and the French national team, is gaining traction.

Napoli, confirmations on Guendouzi: Conte gives the green light and Lotito sets the price for January

The Azzurri club, driven by the needs imposed by injuries and the desire to complete a department that requires two additions, considers the 1999-born player one of the most suitable profiles to raise the quality, intensity, and depth of the squad.

Conte’s approval and Manna’s vision

Despite the evaluations to be made regarding the squad lists and the need to free up spots for the arrival of new “over” players, Guendouzi’s name remains central. Antonio Conte appreciates his dynamism, ball recovery skills, and tactical adaptability. Giovanni Manna, who is defining the strategy for January, also considers the Frenchman a player capable of providing immediate guarantees.

The coach and the sporting director share the same approach: to pair a physically strong midfielder with a versatile and modern profile, capable of fitting well into a high-intensity system. Guendouzi fits these characteristics.

Lazio’s position: open, but on their terms

Lazio is willing to discuss a transfer in January, but only by respecting precise financial conditions. Although he has contributed two goals and an assist in the first part of the season, the player considers his time with the Biancocelesti to be over and would like a change of scenery.

President Claudio Lotito had set a valuation of 50 million in the summer, linked to the release clause, but the context has changed. The player’s requests for a contract adjustment, from 2.5 million per year plus bonuses to about 3.3 million, have not been met by the club, making a transfer more likely to avoid friction and maximize revenue.

How much does Guendouzi cost today: Lotito’s demands

For the January transfer window, Lazio would consider an offer between 30 and 35 million euros. The preferred formula would be a loan with an obligation to buy, not an option, thus guaranteeing certainty of income by the end of the season.

Any potential negotiation would remain complex, but not impossible. Much will depend on Napoli’s willingness to invest in a player who is already ready, able to immediately fit into Conte’s system, and on Guendouzi’s desire to test himself in a more ambitious technical environment.

Prospects for January

With a squad decimated by injuries and a packed schedule between the league and the Champions League, Conte wants immediate reinforcements. Guendouzi represents a concrete opportunity: international experience, tactical maturity, and room for growth make the Frenchman an ideal profile to balance Napoli’s midfield.

Napoli is evaluating carefully and, if a gap opens in Lazio’s demands, could attempt to make a move as early as the first weeks of January.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.