Napoli nearing Fabinho deal with AS Monaco

One of the more intriguing targets that Napoli have been linked to of late is AS Monaco's Fabinho, an athletic and versatile young Brazilian who has been incredibly impressive since he joined the French side from Real Madrid three years ago. Now, if reports in Italy are correct, Napoli and Monaco have come to terms on a deal to bring Fabinho to Naples, with a deal with Fabinho himself the main hurdle left to clear.

Financial details are unknown, though Aurelio De Laurentiis did confirm last week that he had offered Monaco €10 million for Fabinho. It's unlikely that that sum is enough to get the job done given Fabinho's quality, but at least we know what the starting point of the negotiations was.

Fabinho, 22, is a versatile player who has excelled at both right back and in a box-to-box role in midfield. With Napoli looking to upgrade both areas, he makes a lot of sense, helping the team in multiple ways. He's good enough to start, and given Napoli's quality in both areas, he can be an excellent asset as a rotational player and impact off the bench as well. He'd be a tremendous piece to add to improve Napoli's depth, something they very much need.

While he's not an outright playmaker, Fabinho does have a healthy creative spark and goalscoring instincts, getting six goals and four assists in Ligue 1 play last season. He's also played well against top-level talent, excelling in Monaco's Champions League campaigns over the last two years.

If there's any truth to this deal, there's a lot to like for Napoli. He helps in ways that they need, he's talented, he's young enough to still improve significantly, and he's got the experience to make an impact right now. If Fabinho signs, Napoli fans will have plenty of reasons to celebrate.