Napoli line up Perin to replace ailing Pepe Reina
One of this season’s pleasant surprises are already on the brink of selling talented striker Leonardo Pavoletti to the Partenopei, who have been short of strikers since Arkadiusz Milik went down with an ACL tear, one that is likely to keep him away until February at the very least.
The 27-year-old Pavoletti isn’t the only Genoa talent who is being courted by Aurelio de Laurentiis, however, with goalkeeper Pepe Reina needing a replacement.
According to Metropolis, Napoli are very enthusiastic about the Grifone’s shotstopper, Mattia Perin, seen as one of the future stars for Italy. With Reina showing his age and set to leave at the end of the season, could Perin leave in January?
It’s unlikely. He will most certainly be a target come June, but spending the 20 million Enrico Preziosi is asking for now seems a step too far, especially as Napoli are set to spend the same amount on Pavoletti.
Moreover, Perin is very attached to the club that gave him his professional debut, and is idolized by the fans.
Unwilling to splash out €40m in January, Napoli are set to get back in the fray come June… where it’ll be far harder for Genoa to keep him, especially with Perin’s agent making noises about his client, not Gigio Donnarumma, being Gianluigi Buffon’s long-term heir.
Surely playing for a bigger club is the next step on the way to defending Italy’s goal?
