Manna: ‘Napoli will not pay outside market value’ for Garnacho and Adeyemi | OneFootball

Napoli director Giovanni Manna confirms ‘interest’ in Alejandro Garnacho and Karim Adeyemi, but warns Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund they ‘will not pay prices outside the market value.’

The big match with Juventus kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei sold Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain, so are now focused on finding a replacement on the transfer market.

They had looked to Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, but seem more inclined towards Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi right now.

“These are two names that are of interest to us, they are players we like, but they are not the only ones. We are trying to evaluate a few things and looking at the opportunities, but we certainly will not pay prices that are outside the market value,” Manna told DAZN.

“We made this sale that unfortunately was necessary for what the player wanted and our dynamics. We will respect our parameters, not just for the transfer fee, but also the salary.

“We are evaluating a few situations, it would not be right to give our fans false hope, but we will certainly do what is best to improve the squad.”

The DAZN pundits, Ciro Ferrara and Massimo Ambrosini, agreed that the idea of paying €65m for Garnacho is “sheer madness,” let alone the €80m that Manchester United were asking for.

Napoli eager to keep costs down after Kvaratskhelia exit

BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, gives the team instructions during the Serie A match between Atalanta and Napoli at Gewiss Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Napoli are top of the Serie A table and fresh off a 3-2 victory away to Atalanta, but it also represents a reunion between Antonio Conte and the club where he spent most of his playing and indeed coaching career.

Part of the issue is that Conte has a very specific ideal XI and there are few on the bench right now who seem like they can compete for a starting spot.

“We are proud of what the players are doing and the group that the coach has put together. However, this is a process and if we want to compete and aim for the top in Italy and in Europe, the squad needs to be improved. That means adding pieces in every transfer window, whether it’s January or July,” concluded Manna.

“We share that view with the coach, it is not easy to improve this squad, but every game is complicated and it is important to have players ready to come off the bench and add something.”