Osasuna and Napoli close on Alex Berenguer transfer

Napoli’s early transfer season chase seems to be focused out wide, and it’s starting to look like their first signing is close. Reports in Spain indicate that Osasuna are close to agreeing to terms with the partenopei on the transfer of Alex Berenguer, a young fullback with the potential to be a solid long-term signing for Napoli.

Berenguer, 21, is primarily a right back, though he’s played a lot on the left as well, and can help his team a bit higher up the pitch when needed. That versatility can be valuable for Napoli, who need better depth out wide in the back, as well as further up the pitch.

Last season saw Berenguer playing 30 matches across all competitions for Osasuna last season, scoring twice and doling out six assists. Most of his starts saw him float back and forth between right back and the left wing, with a handful of appearances on the right wing and at left back for good measure. That kind of versatility would be immense for Maurizio Sarri to fall back on, making the idea of having him in the team very attractive.

Also sniffing around Berenguer is Athletic Bilbao, but Osasuna seem disinterested in selling him to their La Liga rival, with sporting director Francisco Canal going so far as to say to Radio Kiss Kiss that a deal could come in the next few days. Napoli are believed to have tabled an offer for €5 million plus bonuses, though Osasuna would prefer to hold out for his €9 million release clause if possible.

Either way, that’s not a bad price at all to acquire a young player who has shown solid upside and can provide the team with valuable depth. There’s really no downside here unless he somehow fails to ever play for Napoli.