Brighton & Bournemouth on Alert as Mario Gila’s Move Napoli Stalls | OneFootball

Napoli are struggling to close a deal for Lazio defender Mario Gila, allowing Brighton and Bournemouth to pounce.

The Background

The 25-year-old is currently in a precarious situation, as his contract with Lazio will expire in June 2027. With the Aquile failing to qualify for Europe in back-to-back seasons, the Spaniard is pursuing greener pastures.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Napoli had found an agreement with Gila’s agent, Alejandro Camano. The Partenopei agreed to triple the player’s current salary from €1 million per year to over €3 million. However, finding an accord with Lazio president Claudio Lotito remains the biggest hurdle for the Stadio Maradona outfit.

Napoli Struggling to Close Gila Deal With Lazio

According to Il Messaggero and Il Corriere dello Sport, the talks between the two clubs have stalled, as Napoli’s opening €15 million bid fell way below Lazio’s €30 million asking price. The Biancocelesti aren’t willing to offer any discounts, as they have to share the transfer fee with Gila’s former club, Real Madrid, who will receive a 50% sell-on fee on Lazio’s profit.

Sam Beukema Isin’t Keen on Lazio Move

It was also suggested that Napoli could reduce the cost by offering Sam Beukema in an exchange deal, but both sources agree that the Dutch defender is unlikely to join Lazio. Therefore, the Azzurri risk missing out on their top target, as the negotiations between the two clubs are stalling.

Brighton & Bournemouth Interested in Gila?

On the contrary, this could pave the way for other suitors to enter the fray and seal the deal. But while Il Messaggero insists that Bournemouth are interested in Gila, Il Corriere dello Sport names Brighton as the defender’s biggest admirers in the Premier League.

Why Gila is Highly Regarded in Europe

Gila has been plying his trade in the Italian capital since making the move from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022. While it took him a couple of years to settle, he eventually established himself as one of the finest centre-backs in Serie A.