Chelsea receive £43m summer transfer boost as Napoli star makes decision on future
Posted Saturday, November 16, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Chelsea transfer news: Napoli star Hysak makes decision on his future in Frank Lampard boost (Image: GETTY Images)
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has been handed a £43million transfer boost after Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj revealed plans to leave the Serie A club when his contract expires this summer.
Chelsea could be saving £43m this summer if transfer target Elseid Hysaj decides to leave Napoli as a free agent.
The right-back’s agent has made it clear he intends to leave the Neapolitan club before the start of next season, and it’s up to Napoli to decide whether they sell him in January, or let him leave for free in July.
Chelsea made a £43m (€50m) offer for the Albanian defender last summer, but saw their bid rejected, his agent revealed.
Despite the setback of missing out on their target this year, Lampard could be set to gain the player without spending a penny, if he runs down his contract until the end of the season.
Hysaj’s agent, Mario Giuffredi, told Radio Punto Nuovo: “Whatever happens with him, the outcome will be great.
“If we leave, we’ll do what we had to do in the summer. If we don’t leave, Napoli will lose the player on a free transfer, but it’ll always work out for us.
“A year-and-a-half ago, Napoli could’ve taken €50m (£43m) from Chelsea.
“If Hysaj stays at Napoli, the Neapolitan club risks losing the player for nothing.”
It’s believed that Chelsea were targeting 25-year-old Hysaj as a long-term replacement for club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
But, after the emergence of youngster Reece James, Hysaj may have to settle for playing second-filled to the 19-year-old.
The Albania captain has featured just four times in Serie A this season, after a series of injuries.
He missed Napoli’s Champions League win over Liverpool in September with a muscle problem, and missed almost a month of action in October with a fracture.
But, he’s slowly working his way back to full fitness, after featuring for most of Napoli’s fixtures last season.
He swapped between right-back and left-back on a number of occasions during his 27 Serie A appearances.
Meanwhile, James has impressed this season for Chelsea since his recovery from an ankle injury.
He’s made four Premier League appearances this campaign, and played his first full 90 minutes against Crystal Palace last weekend.
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