CorSport – Napoli splash out €112m to boost attack with Hojlund | OneFootball

CorSport – Napoli, major investment to increase goals: with Hojlund's redemption, it reaches 112 million!

Especially the attack. But also the attack above all in the market. Napoli has tried to add goals, flair, creativity, and danger to a department that by definition must lead the team's offensive phase. A mechanism equipped with a balance that could withstand therapy and sometimes a bomb since the second day of the previous championship: a trio of slaps to Verona in full rebuilding and then goodbye and thanks to everyone for trying, team locked down (also in the first two of the new tournament). Guard, right or left, it doesn't matter: a great receiver, Conte's first Napoli. Careful, cautious but deadly on alternate days. The numbers tell the story: the championship was won with the best defense in Europe but with the sixth attack in the league. Worse even than Lazio and Milan, outside the ranks of those qualified for European cups. Clear the message? The last market said yes: Noa Lang; Lorenzo Lucca and Rasmus Hojlund; Elif Elmas and Kevin De Bruyne. First of all, don't concede, of course, but right after, you have to score: masterpieces are called that because they are rare. And the 2024-2025 championship is a museum piece.

A left winger, two strikers, two attacking midfielders: 55.5 percent of the first team's market. More than half of a purchase pool that, also considering the Argentine gem Barido, a 17-year-old playmaker who will mainly gain experience in the Primavera, includes a goalkeeper, two central defenders, and a left winger. All-rounder: Miguel Gutierrez, certainly, a man who in intentions must also guarantee drive, assists, and some goals in addition to the right coverage. It would almost make sense to include him in the context of offensive purchases. Napoli has invested a lot, even more than the planned expenditure after the surprise purchase of Hojlund, to strengthen the attack or rather the goal production with flair, dribbling, finishing, intensity, and above all goals. The club invested 35 million for Lucca, about fifty for Hojlund (loan with obligation tied to Champions qualification), 25 for Lang, 2 for Elmas's loan (with a redemption right at 17): 68 guaranteed plus De Bruyne's signing bonus and awaiting Hojlund's redemption. In that case, the figure will skyrocket to 112 million. If desired, the 18 of Gutierrez could also be added, and the final round figure would be 130.

Apart from Kevin, the spotlight is inevitably on the strikers: they will have to fill the void created by Lukaku's temporary but not short absence, 14 goals and 10 assists in the championship season, both demonstrating the ability to improve the excellent premises in their possession. Lucca presented himself with the 12 goals scored in the league with Udinese, 14 with the Coppa Italia, but the impact was normally uphill: the dimension has changed, the tactical dictates and pressures have changed. Calm and composure. Hojlund, on the other hand, will start again from the 10 goals of a very difficult season for all of United between Premier and cups. Eyes on them but also on Lang, one of the most anticipated players on the eve but not yet blossomed after two tiring retreats and just 17 minutes in two matches. He arrived strong with a record of 14 seasonal goals with PSV and with the distinction of being the best dribbler and crosser in the Netherlands. Napoli awaits him.

Carlo Gioia

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