The Partenopei have only just begun celebrating their historic Serie A title triumph, but their team could now be picked apart by England's elite…
The Scudetto party is still in full swing in Naples. It will be for some time. Napoli fans have waited more than three decades for a third Serie A title; you can be sure they're going to drag these incredible celebrations out for as long as possible.
And why not? Their team hasn't just dominated Serie A this season, winning the title with five rounds to spare, Luciano Spalletti's scintillating side also illuminated the Champions League until their quarter-final exit.
However, without wanting to sound like a party-pooper, there is an obvious downside to a club operating on a modest budget making the rest of Europe sit up and take notice: now all of the continent's richest teams want Napoli's best players.
There is every chance that this thrilling team could get picked apart by the Premier League – and that is just the cold, hard and sad reality of the situation.
Below, GOAL runs through the Napoli stars that England's elite will be scrambling to sign this summer…
GettyKim Min-jae
If the latest reports are to be believed, we're not just going to have a Manchester derby in the FA Cup final. According to several outlets, both United and City are hoping to sign Kim Min-jae this summer. Their interest is understandable. After all, Spalletti says the South Korean is the best centre-back in the world right now.
He's certainly having an incredible campaign. Kim, remember, was given the seemingly impossible task of replacing club legend Kalidou Koulibaly at the heart of the Napoli defence, and has pulled it off with remarkable ease.
His aerial ability and imposing physical presence would obviously make him an ideal fit for United, who are crying out for a dominant centre-back, but it's also easy to see why City are said to be keen, given Kim is excellent on the ball. Indeed, no player has made more successful passes in Serie A this season.
Napoli would be loath to lose Kim after just one season at the Maradona, but there is talk of a €50 million (£44m/$55m) release clause coming into play for two weeks this summer that is only applicable to foreign clubs.
At that price, he would represent an absolute steal.
AdvertisementGettyAndre-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa didn't exactly set the Premier League alight during his time at Fulham, but the Cameroon international has taken his game to a whole other level since moving to Serie A in 2021. Just ask anyone connected with Liverpool. Zambo Anguissa was immense in Napoli's destruction of Jurgen Klopp's Reds on matchday one of this season's Champions League.
As well as playing a pivotal role in the Partenopei's passing game, the midfielder is also a pressing monster, as underlined by the fact that no player has won possession back in the final third more times in Serie A this season.
Let's face it, there are a few big Premier League clubs that could do with a player like Zambo Anguissa – including Liverpool themselves!
GettyStanislav Lobotka
Napoli are well aware of the value of Stanislav Lobotka. De Laurentiis has just given the all-action Slovakian a new contract that runs until 2027, which was obviously a smart play.
Firstly, it boosts Napoli's hopes of holding onto arguably the most important player in Spalletti's set-up. Secondly, if any top teams do come in for Lobotka, they will now have to pay top dollar for his services.
It certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see someone test Napoli's resolve. Lobotka is Napoli's midfield metronome, keeping the ball moving swiftly and effectively about the pitch, but he's also equally adept at breaking up the play. The 28-year-old ranks second in terms of possession won in Serie A this season.
It would take a massive offer for Napoli to even consider parting company with a player that Spalletti has previously compared to Andreas Iniesta!
Getty ImagesPiotr Zielinski
Piotr Zielinski has long been linked with a move to England. It might finally happen this summer.
The 28-year-old midfielder has made a significant contribution to Napoli's Scudetto success. As well as chipping in with three goals, he ranks joint-fourth for assists in Serie A, with seven, and joint-third in terms of chances created (60).
And all of this in spite of the fact that he has been in and out of the starting line up in recent weeks, with Spalletti suggesting that Zielinski has been lacking the level of aggression he demands.
A parting of the ways at the end of the season now seems inevitable, particularly as the Poland international is on a high salary, by Napoli's standards at least, and his current contract expires next year.