Napoli and Milan Close to Onboarding New Fullbacks | OneFootball

Napoli and Milan are both on the precipice of bolstering their defensive flanks, as they have made waves to add Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez and Young Boys’ Zachary Athekame respectively.

According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Partenopei can seal the deal when they want to. They’ll wait to flesh out their strategy first. They have an agreement in principle for about €20M. Personal terms aren’t an issue. The Scudetto champions need to decide whether to invest in this role or prioritize others, like a winger or a midfielder. Furthermore, the prospective newcomer is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

While Napoli are making their final reflections on Gutierrez, Milan are going full steam ahead for Athekame and wish to finalize the move in a couple of days. Their initial €7M bid was rejected, Calciomercato reports.

Though, the gap with Young Boys is minimal and could be closed with the bonuses. The 20-year-old broke out last season, quickly earning a regular role after coming in from Neuchâtel Xamax and totaling 45 appearances, scoring once and providing three assists. The Rossoneri have been trying to sign Guéla Doué, but Strasbourg and Chelsea ask for €30M.

Our Take on Napoli and Milan Targeting Gutierrez and Athekame

For the Azzurri, adding an offensive-minded option to Mathias Olivera would increase their versatility and allow them to deploy Leonardo Spinazzola as a depth piece in multiple roles. It’d be a vote of confidence in their present offensive weapons. The Rossoneri could use another body, but there’s a chance either Alexis Saelemaekers or Alex Jimenez will wind up being the top option. There’s enough to explore already to avoid going overboard with the spending.