Napoli try to drive down fee for David Ospina despite already agreeing €3.5m deal | OneFootball

Napoli are planning to offer Arsenal around 58% of what they originally agreed to pay for David Ospina, despite a strong loan spell for the Colombian goalkeeper.

Italian outlet Il Mattino report that Ospina is Colombia at the moment, and Napoli have authorised him not to return this week for their match. He asked for time off for personal reasons, and the implication is that the Serie A club had no plans to utilise him against Inter Milan anyway.

The reason for this is that Napoli know that if Ospina plays one more game, he’ll activate his mandatory purchase clause, agreed with Arsenal last summer. The clause is for a €3.5m transfer, in addition to the €500k they already paid as a loan fee.

Napoli do want to sign Ospina, after his positive loan, but they’re hoping that by avoiding the purchase clause they can renegotiate a lower fee. They’re hoping to pay just €2m for the goalkeeper.

If Arsenal want to be taken seriously in the transfer market, they have to refuse. Stick to the €3.5m, sell Ospina somewhere else, even hold onto him for another season. Anything is better than allowing a club to renegotiate an already embarrassingly low transfer fee.

If the Gunners start the summer by selling an experienced international goalkeeper for 58% of what they’d already agreed, they’re inviting every other club to try the same thing. It’s €3.5m or the deal should be off.