Napoli halt Lucca sale: Lukaku still out, Conte puts transfer plans on hold | OneFootball

Big Rom still sidelined for another 2-3 weeks: misses Lazio and Inter. With only Hojlund available, Napoli considers postponing the departure of the former Udinese player.

Napoli, halt on Lucca's transfer: Lukaku not recovering and Conte slows down the market

Napoli's January 2026 transfer market enters a phase of deep reflection. The situation regarding Romelu Lukaku's recovery is directly affecting the club's outgoing strategies, particularly concerning the future of Lorenzo Lucca. What seemed like an almost finalized transfer a few days ago now risks being frozen or at least postponed to the final days of the winter session.

Lukaku still out: return further away than expected

The central issue is one: Lukaku is not ready. His inclusion among the squad for the Italian Super Cup was more of a hope than a real possibility, as Antonio Conte had hinted from the start. The Belgian has been out since August 14, with over 140 days without official matches, and still needs 15-20 days of individual work before he can be competitive again.

The result is clear: Lukaku will miss the away game against Lazio and the big match with Inter. It's not just about clinical recovery, but a structural issue. A striker with his physical characteristics needs time to regain rhythm, condition, and continuity, especially after such a long break.

Attack emergency: Hojlund the only reference

In this context, Napoli's offensive department finds itself suddenly uncovered. At the moment, the only truly available center forward is Rasmus Hojlund, a situation that forces Conte to reassess market priorities.

This is why Lorenzo Lucca's position becomes central again. The former Udinese player, despite very limited playtime (just 41 minutes in the last nine matches) and a connection with the coach that never really developed, represents a fundamental numerical resource. Letting him go now would mean facing a delicate moment of the season with only one striker.

Lucca, farewell postponed? Manna and De Laurentiis reflect

The Napoli management, with Giovanni Manna and Aurelio De Laurentiis, is called to a strategic evaluation. Napoli must operate with a zero balance, and Lucca's transfer was identified as one of the keys to financing potential signings. However, selling now without guarantees on Lukaku's return is considered too risky.

The most likely scenario, for now, is a postponement of the operation: Lucca's departure remains possible, but only at the end of January, when the offensive emergency might have subsided and the Belgian closer to an effective return.

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