Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Napoli, Football
Ryan Smart
Manchester United sent scouts to Italy to watch two Napoli stars, it has been reported.
United spent significant amounts in the summer window, with over £150 million paid to sign the likes of Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee.
Zirkzee arrived from Bologna after a successful season in Serie A, which saw the Dutch striker play a key role in his now former club qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Now, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness), United have re-entered the Italian market ahead of the January transfer window.
Advert
It is claimed that United sent an official to watch Napoli's 1-0 win over Empoli on Sunday.
Napoli are managed by the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, and the two clubs did business with one another in the summer window when the Neapolitans brought in Scott McTominay from Old Trafford.
The Serie A leaders also have ex-United forward Romelu Lukaku on their books after he completed a permanent transfer from Chelsea.
Tuttomercatoweb claim that United have their eye on two other Napoli stars.
They are said to be star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno.
Kvaratskhelia has been linked with a move to the Premier League since his astonishing debut season in Naples.
He scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists in the 2022/23 Serie A campaign as Napoli won the Scudetto for the first time in 32 years.
Last season, he scored 11 goals, but Napoli struggled to 10th in what was a dismal title defence.
Kvaratskhelia was criticised by some media outlets for his performances, and his agent publicly stated that the Georgia international wanted to leave the club before Euro 2024 amid interest from PSG.
Whether the side's strong form under Conte has changed his mind remains to be seen, but he may be a more realistic target for United than Buongiorno at present.
The Italy international joined Napoli in the summer following a strong spell at Torino, and the 6ft3in centre-back is rated as one of the top defensive prospects in Italian football.
The 25-year-old signed a five-year contract with Napoli containing a release clause of €70 million - which could be out of United's reach as far as January is concerned.