NAPOLI have £45million to spend on Jack Grealish or Alejandro Garnacho — but they will not take both.
The Italian champs laid down the law to Manchester rivals City and United over deals for their exiled wingers.
United want £70m for Garnacho but are yet to receive an offer for the 20-year-old Argentina international.
However, City will be prepared to accept a fee of around £45m for Grealish, 29, who Pep Guardiola axed from his Club World Cup squad.
SunSport understands Napoli would prefer to sign Grealish. But they know Garnacho would be a better investment — as he is nine years younger.
Napoli would love to reunite Grealish with City legend Kevin De Bruyne, who signed a two-year deal on Thursday to end a trophy-laden ten years at the Etihad.
Grealish, who became England’s first £100m player when he signed from Aston Villa in 2021, will be desperate to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans for next summer’s World Cup.
Tottenham and Everton have been linked with a move, while a return to Villa could appeal.
However, it is unlikely City would receive a £45m offer from a Premier League club — meaning a loan would be his only option to stay in England.
Prem sides would also be unlikely to pay Grealish’s £230,000-a-week wages in full.
Guardiola snubbed him in key games at the end of the season, including for the 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace.
The City boss preferred to hand 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri his debut and leave Grealish on the bench as his side desperately chased a leveller in the closing stages at Wembley.
It cost Grealish a place in Tuchel’s squad for England’s recent 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra and 3-1 friendly loss to Senegal.
Garnacho would prefer to stay in the Premier League but United’s £70m price tag has put off suitors.
Chelsea backed off after showing interest back in January.
The Argentine winger was left out of Ruben Amorim’s starting line-up for the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham and only went on as a late substitute.
Boss Amorim then told Garnacho to find a new club this summer.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan are stepping up their efforts to land United’s goal-shy forward Rasmus Hojlund.
Inter are interested in taking the 22-year-old to the San Siro on loan next season, with a view to a permanent deal in 2026.
United would prefer the cash now as they look to give the manager extra funds to make changes.
Former Atalanta forward Hojlund scored just four Prem goals last season — ten in all competitions — and looked short of confidence by the end.
Yet his stock remains high in Italy and Inter are looking to take him back to Serie A — although they are reluctant to stump up United’s £38m asking price.
Read the full article here