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In the wake of the disappointing draw-that-feels-like-a-loss to Athletic Bilbao, there is some good news for Napoli fans. Midfielder Jonathan De Guzman has arrived in Naples ahead of a Wednesday medical to finalize his signing from Villarreal.
It's been reported that the deal will be for roughly €6.5 million, a fair sum for a creative midfielder with two successful seasons in England under his belt. The Dutch international also had a successful spell in the World Cup en route to helping his side to a third-place finish in the tournament, but Villarreal had other plans in midfield and Swansea City, where he spent the last two years on loan, couldn't afford to bring De Guzman in on a permanent deal.
That opened the door for Napoli to step in and snap up the midfielder, who preferred a move to Italy rather than a return to England with also-interested Queens Park Rangers. De Guzman makes a lot of sense in a midfield in sore need of depth, even if he doesn't fill the ball-winning role that's been coveted by Napoli for some time now. His experience and ability will give the club a much-needed boost in a couple different roles, and could easily be a big factor in the club's season.
If nothing else, De Guzman's presence in the squad could minimize Walter Gargano's role in the side, and that alone is worth twice his reported fee.