Napoli Make €20m Bid for RC Lens Midfielder Andy Diouf

Napoli have made a €20 million bid for French midfielder Andy Diouf from RC Lens. The club wants to improve their team for the new Serie A season.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Napoli‘s first offer for Andy Diouf is €20 million. RC Lens want closer to €23-25 million. Diouf, 22, is valued by Lens for his good play and Premier League interest. Burnley and Crystal Palace also like him. Diouf won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He’s played over 50 games for Lens and scored two goals with two assists since joining in 2023. Napoli seeks midfield options for a tough season ahead.

LENS AND NAPOLI’S CURRENT FORM

Lens finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season, missing Europe by just five points. Their young team showed promise late. Diouf was a regular, with over 2,500 league minutes. Napoli, the Serie A champions, want to keep their title. Manager Antonio Conte wants a stronger midfield after beating Inter Milan by a small margin last season. Napoli starts against Sassuolo next week, a team back in the Serie A after gaining promotion last season. Both see the match as important for this year’s goals.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR DIOUF AND BOTH CLUBS?

Napoli and Lens will talk more, with Lens aiming for more money. Premier League sides, especially Crystal Palace, remain interested. But no deal is reached yet. Diouf’s choice may depend on who pays the fee and his own goals. Napoli’s next game is against Sassuolo in Serie A. They hope to fit in new players quickly. Lens start the Ligue 1 season against Lyon next weekend, focused on keeping their squad as they aim for European spots against a direct opponent.