Premier League club Everton FC wants to sign free transfer winger from Napoli

According to reports from Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport, Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna is in advanced talks with Everton FC about the sale of Jesper Lindström. The English Premier League club wants a loan deal with the option of a permanent transfer.

Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for $32.5 million (€30 million) last summer, Lindstrom was a versatile attacking addition for then-coach Rudi Garcia. But after failing to score a single goal in 27 Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League appearances, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is willing to absorb a $5.4 million loss so new coach Antonio Conte can effectively restructure.

The Danish international replaced Hirving Lozano a year ago but is set to leave Napoli after a disappointing season marred by injuries and uninspiring performances. He could be the first of many to leave Castel Volturno since Conte’s arrival, with Victor Osimhen, Geovanni Simeone and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all linked with exits.

There were high hopes that Lindström could shine at the Stadio Maradona as he did in Frankfurt, where he scored 12 goals in two years. But in Napoli’s star-studded squad featuring the likes of Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Politano, the 24-year-old’s playing time was limited, resulting in him being left off Denmark’s Euro 2024 list.

The deal now depends on the disgruntled Lindstrom coming to terms with Everton and then successfully passing a medical as the perennial English stumbling block seeks their third major signing of the transfer window. Sporting director Kevin Thelwell has already spent a total of $31 million on Iliman Ndiaye (Marseille) and Tim Iroegbunam (Aston Villa), according to FootballTransfers.

Everton’s search for a dynamic winger began last year with Leeds United striker Wilfried Gnonto, and the Italian international could be available for a similar price if the Lindstrom deal falls through.

Paris Saint Germain are looking to raise their profile after losing Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. The Ligue 1 title winners have reportedly bid over $200 million for Osimhen and Kvaradonabut 2022-23 Serie A champions Napoli are tough to get. Although both players are begging to leave because they want the astronomical salaries that only PSG is willing to offer, it will be a huge struggle for De Laurentiis to let his top scorers go. Plus, both are on long-term contracts.

Can Napoli persuade its stars to stay?

Conte’s arrival means that Napoli can once again have a renowned coach on the bench. After last season’s debacle (three coaching changes and tenth place), optimism has returned to the southern Italian city. The former Juventus and Chelsea coach, who won five major trophies as a coach, is rebuilding the back line, signing Rafa Marín from Real Madrid ($13 million) and Alessandro Buongiorno from Torino ($38 million).

Conte, known for his 3-5-2 formation that won him the title at Inter, has convinced presumptive captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo to stay. Di Lorenzo is expected to adjust to life as a right-back, while new signing Leonardo Spinazzola (free from AS Roma) will play on the left.

Spinazzola and Di Lorenzo were among Italy’s outstanding players at the 2020 European Championship. However, due to an injury and a resulting loss of speed, Spinazzola was missing from Luciano Spalletti’s squad in 2024.

The three reinforcements of Manna and Conte in defense as well as the return of midfield loan players Gianluca Gaetano (Cagliari) and Michael Folorunsho (Verona) can increase Napoli’s chances of returning to the top of Serie A in the 2024/25 season.

A win-win situation?

The sale of Lindstrom is crucial to both Napoli’s transfer strategy and Everton’s continued development, and a deal for the former Brøndby attacker could solve a major problem for Toffees boss Sean Dyche, whose main goal is to avoid relegation.

Lindstrom’s departure means more space for Alessio Zerbin should Conte decide to keep the young Italian, who is returning from a successful loan at Monza. Alternatively, Benfica winger David Neres (eight caps for Brazil) could be signed for a reported $27 million, although his release clause is worth $108 million, reports A Bola.