Romelu Lukaku is going through a real blow at the start of the season. The Belgian Napoli striker indeed contracted a serious injury during the friendly match against Olympiakos, a significant tear in the femoral right muscle of the left thigh. The examinations carried out at Pineta Grande Hospital confirmed the severity of the lesion, forcing the player to immediately start a strict rehabilitation protocol, under the constant surveillance of the medical staff. The club also indicated that a surgical consultation was scheduled for the coming days, leaving doubt about a possible operation which would even extend its absence. If the exact duration of its unavailability remains to be defined, the first estimates evoke a return only at the end of the year, or even later in the event of a complication, a scenario which would represent a blow as well for Antonio Conte as for the sports ambitions of Napoli.
On Monday afternoon, an emergency meeting was organized between Antonio Conte, Aurelio de Laurentiis and Giovanni Manna in order to decide the march to follow after the serious injury of Romelu Lukaku. The main debate focused on two strategic options: exclude the Belgian from the official list to release a place and recruit a major attacker, or keep it while focusing on the arrival of a promising young attacker. Nevertheless, the time is not in panic and this meeting between the thinking heads of the Partenopei also made it possible to repeat the confidence shared and renewed on the recruit Lorenzo Lucca, but also Noa Lang and David Neres. Anyway, the Neapolitan direction agrees on one point: it is imperative to strengthen the offensive sector.
Return of the rumor sterling
In a situation that could have been catastrophic, Napoli nevertheless benefits from a significant advantage, having worked all summer in the number of numbers 9 and having several concrete tracks to replace the Belgian international. According to our information, in terms of targets, Joshua Zirkzee remains the priority of the club, but the transaction promises to be delicate due to the high cost and the resistance of Manchester United in the discussions. In this sense and according to our indiscretions, the Rumor Raheem Sterling resurfaces in the corridors of Castel Volturno. Eternal in suspense file, Naples would be ready to relaunch this track. A few hours ago, the Neapolitan direction began to exchange messages with the same intermediaries who allowed Manna to fly to Manchester in May and convince Kevin de Bruyne. Napoli leaders count on Chelsea to reduce the amount requested by 25 million.
The Partenopei would like a loan with part of the salary covered given the exorbitant contract in progress until June 2027 worth 16.9 million pounds sterling. In parallel, Naples also thinks of Nikola Krstović, from Lecce, with whom the first contacts were established via the entourage of the player. Artem Dovbyk, currently at AS Roma, could also be available. The Giallorossi seeking to release funds to finalize other recruits intended for Gian Piero Gasperini. Finally, Andrea Pinamonti represents a solid alternative, the track being already well advanced thanks to negotiations started with Sassuolo. All of these options show that Naples actively explores several scenarios to fill the absence of Lukaku and maintain his competitiveness in attack. There is no time to waste and the Neapolitan direction is well aware of it.
