A decision could be made in the coming days about the near future of Nicolás Tagliafico. La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Napoli is currently awaiting a conversation between the management of the Argentine wing defender and the club management of Ajax. Napoli would like to rent Tagliafico with a non-mandatory option to buy from Ajax, but the team from Amsterdam does not intend to cooperate with it for the time being.
It was previously reported that Tagliafico himself would like to leave Ajax this month. The Argentinian, who was taken over by Ajax for four million euros from the Argentine Independiente at the beginning of 2018, generally has to tolerate Daley Blind in the left back position and is out for more playing time. Olympique Marseille and Napoli have recently been named as the most concrete candidates for Tagliafico, although the French club no longer seems an option. L’OM last week already brought in a left back with Sead Kolasinac.
Due to the uncertain situation of Faouzi Ghoulam – who is in possession of an expiring contract – Napoli wants to add another left back to the selection this month and is therefore still strongly interested in Tagliafico. The Ajax fullback has been on sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli’s radar since the 2018 World Cup and he now wants to take advantage of the fact that Tagliafico is ready for a new challenge. Napoli already has an offer ready, but it seems unlikely that Ajax will agree to it at the moment.
The current number three of the Serie A is betting on a lease with option to buy. However, that would offer Ajax too little certainty. Tagliafico still has a contract in Amsterdam until mid-2023, as a result of which he threatens to end up in his last contract year next season. For that reason, Ajax wants to include a mandatory option to buy in a possible rental agreement, something Napoli does not see in the moment. President Aurelio De Laurentiis first wants to see if Tagliafico fits into the system of trainer Luciano Spalletti for six months, before he pulls the wallet.
Napoli hopes to reach an agreement with Ajax, but has to fear competition. The fact that Ajax only asks six to seven million euros for Tagliafico ensures that his name falls with more clubs. La Gazzetta dello Sport mentions ‘mainly’ Barcelona, but also Chelsea. Spanish journalist Gerard Romero also reports on Thursday that Tagliafico would have been offered to Barcelona after the Argentinean TyC Sports also linked him to the Catalans last week.
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