Napoli are awfully busy on the transfer market right now, and that's wonderful. After closing on Vlad Chiriches, the partenopei have now reportedly agreed to a transfer fee with Empoli for another one of Maurizio Sarri's former stars, this time bringing fullback Elseid Hysaj into the fold.
The deal is for a reported €5 million plus bonuses, and Hysaj is believed to have already agreed to a five-year contract with Napoli. The Albanian international is just 21, but impressed mightily with Empoli last season under Sarri and is regarded as having a very bright future indeed. The deal is still subject to a medical and the usual legal rigmarole, but with agreements in place with club and apparently the player as well, things could be wrapped up very quickly.
Hysaj is primarily a right back and is good enough right now to seriously push Christian Maggio for the starting spot there. While normally that would preclude Napoli from also signing Sime Vrsaljko, there's an important factor that keeps the Croatian in play and explains why Napoli are still trying to sign him -- even if those negotiations seem to have slowed again -- and that's the fact that Hysaj can play on the left as well.
With Faouzi Ghoulam still almost continually linked to moves away from the San Paolo, Hysaj could provide depth on both flanks of the defense, backing Ivan Strinic up at left back while Vrsaljko and Maggio share the starter's reigns at right back. He'd play more often on the left than on his preferred right side in that scenario, but he's close enough in overall quality on the left side -- even without being particularly left-footed -- that it'd be worth having as an option.
That versatility is incredibly valuable even if that scenario doesn't play out, because as Napoli have found out far too many times over the years, you can never have too much defensive depth. Especially when that depth is talented with a lot of upside, and comes far cheaper than it probably should, there's really nothing not to like about Napoli potentially signing Hysaj.
