Report – Napoli Defender Set to Join Bayer Leverkusen | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly on the verge of signing Napoli wingback Miguel Gutierrez as a long-term replacement for Alejandro Grimaldo. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Serie A runners-up have accepted Die Werkself’s €30 million bid for the Spanish star.

Leverkusen lost Grimaldo to Atletico Madrid earlier this summer, with their former captain joining Diego Simeone’s side in a €25m deal. Needless to say, the 30-year-old’s departure has left a sizeable gap at left-back, forcing the Bundesliga giants back into the market.

New boss Carles Martinez had initially considered Marseille’s Facundo Medina. However, Gutierrez’s attacking qualities appear to be a better fit for Martinez’s tactical vision. Furthermore, his playing style is strikingly similar to Grimaldo’s, particularly in the final third, where he excels as both a creator and a ball carrier.

Therefore, Leverkusen have decided to put €30m on the table, even though Napoli had been willing to sell Gutierrez for around €25m.

What now for Napoli?

Gutierrez swapped Girona for Napoli last summer and made an immediate impact. In his first season in Serie A, he made 28 league appearances, registering one goal and one assist. As such, the club’s decision to let him leave after just one year makes little sense.

Perhaps the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri had something to do with it, as the veteran manager may prefer a more defensively disciplined option at left-back. Nevertheless, Napoli must now find a suitable replacement for Spain’s Olympic gold medalist, whose transfer to the BayArena seems like a mere formality at this point.