Napoli reluctant to give up Max Kilman chase | OneFootball

Reigning Serie A champions Napoli are unwilling to put the brakes on their stuttering pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman.

According to Corriere dello Sport, new manager Rudi Garcia has earmarked the 26-year-old as an ideal replacement for outgoing star Kim Min-jae.

With only the final paperwork missing before the South Korea international becomes a new Bayern Munich player, the Italians are in the market for a new defensive leader.

Real Sociedad’s Robin Le Normand has emerged as one of the potential candidates to fill the vacancy, but it may take up to €50 million to prise the Spaniard away from San Sebastian.

As Napoli are unwilling to come near that figure, Kilman’s name has climbed up the ladder, although the Englishman won’t command a significantly lower price tag.

Aurelio De Laurentiis saw his opening €35m offer for Gillingham academy product rejected by Wolverhampton as they continue to hold out for their €40m valuation.

However, the Napoli chief is banking on his friendly relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes to help soften Wolves’ stance amid the club’s effort to extend the centre-back’s contract.

Kliman was an omnipresent figure in Wovles’ starting line-up last season, making an impressive 37 Premier League starts under former boss Bruno Lage and his successor Julen Lopetegui.

Lopetegui even entrusted his first-choice defender with the captain’s armband on two separate occasions at the tail-end of 2022/23, demonstrating his trust in the Napoli target.

Given Kliman’s importance to the team on and off the field, Wolves are unlikely to budge on their demands, meaning the Partenopei can either meet their asking price or walk away.

If they drop their interest in the English defender, the Italians could turn to Stuttgart’s Konstantinos Mavropanos or Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ko Itakura.

Talks between Napoli and Gladbach over the Japanese’s move to the Diego Maradona Stadium are already underway, with the Serie A champions hoping to close a deal at €12-15m.