Napoli launch £25.6m bid as Brighton consider midfielder sale
Napoli Table £25.6m Offer for Brighton Midfielder Matt O'Riley
Napoli lead pursuit of Brighton midfielder
Brighton's commitment to strategic recruitment and development continues to draw attention from Europe's elite. According to Sky Sports, Napoli have made a formal offer of £25.6 million (€30 million) for Matt O'Riley, placing them at the front of a growing queue for the midfielder's signature.
Advertisement
Negotiations are underway, with Brighton reportedly open to a deal if their valuation is met. While the club still consider O'Riley 'an important part of their project,' the Seagulls are understood to be realistic about the financial opportunities presented by such bids.
Photo IMAGO
Serie A clubs Atalanta and Roma are also tracking O'Riley, with the latter's new manager Gian Piero Gasperini a long-term admirer. But Napoli are in pole position, pending the sale of André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.
Premier League midfield reshuffle continues
Napoli's midfield now includes familiar Premier League names in Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne, with Stanislav Lobotka still part of the rotation. O'Riley would add depth and flexibility to a squad looking to retain domestic and European competitiveness.
Photo IMAGO
Advertisement
For Brighton, the situation is delicate. Losing another key player to a European powerhouse may be seen as inevitable, yet it still stings for a club striving to establish a lasting top-flight presence.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
For Brighton fans, this is yet another frustrating reminder of the club's place in the football food chain. Matt O'Riley represents everything Brighton have done right in recent years — smart scouting, patient development, and a clear tactical role within a progressive system. But if he's sold now, it'll feel like another promising chapter ripped from the book just as it was getting interesting.
The timing is particularly painful. After a season of inconsistency, what the team needs is stability, not more turnover. O'Riley offers a rare mix of vision and control, someone who can dictate the tempo in games where Brighton too often drifted. Watching him go to a Napoli midfield already packed with talent like De Bruyne and Lobotka will be a difficult pill to swallow.
Yes, £25.6 million is a significant sum, but how much is continuity worth? The club may benefit financially, but the cost to morale and progress could be far steeper. Fans want to build — not rebuild — every summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Fiorentina to continue Fazzini talks this weekend
Fiorentina and Empoli directors will get in touch over the weekend to discuss Jacopo Fazzini's possible move to the Stadio Franchi. Fiorentina are eager to secure an agreement for Empoli midfielder Fazzini. Fiorentina push to close Fazzini deal epa12135394 Empoli's midfielder Jacopo Fazzini celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the Italian serie A soccer match Empoli FC vs Hellas Verona FC at Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli, Italy, 25 May 2025. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI Sources with direct knowledge of the matter inform me that the Tuscans have already offered €9m plus add-ons, but are prepared to raise their proposal to narrow the gap with Empoli's €12m-€13m asking price. Advertisement The two clubs will continue negotiations over the weekend. Fiorentina are expected to announce Stefano Pioli as their new head coach, while Edin Dzeko completed his medical tests on Thursday and will soon be confirmed as the first new signing of Fiorentina's new course.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fiorentina on verge of deal with Empoli for Italy talent Fazzini
Fiorentina on verge of deal with Empoli for Italy talent Fazzini Fiorentina are set to wrap up the final details of a deal that will see Italy talent Jacopo Fazzini move to the Stadio Franchi from Empoli following their relegation at the end of the 2024-25 season. Fiorentina have deal in place for Fazzini Football Italia understands that Fiorentina and Empoli will wrap up the final details of Fazzini's transfer over the weekend. Advertisement La Viola will pay a fee in the region of €10m, plus additional bonuses and add-ons to bring the 22-year-old back into Serie A. EMPOLI, ITALY – MAY 10: Jacopo Fazziini of Empoli FC celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Empoli and Parma at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 10, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by) This was a fairly quick deal for Fiorentina, who managed to secure an agreement within the space of about three days. The Tuscans have, however, been monitoring Fazzini and have been considering a move since mid-December. Now, with Empoli relegated to Serie B, and with not an enormous amount of competition from rival Serie A sides, Fiorentina have been able to get a deal done. The last details of Fazzini's move are expected to be a formality, and he is expected to become Fiorentina's first signing of the summer transfer window.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Richard Hughes has just pulled off the IMPOSSIBLE swap deal
It looks like Liverpool have agreed to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old centre-back found first-team minutes hard to come by under Arne Slot in the Premier League last season. Quansah featured for around 400 minutes in the top flight - making only four starts - having been dislodged from the lineup by Ibrahima Konate at half-time on matchday one. Advertisement Given his homegrown status and long-term contract, Quansah is a potential money-maker in the summer transfer window. Liverpool would be permitted to book the entire fee for the England under-21 international as profit. That in turn would help with PSR obligations as well as giving Richard Hughes more money to play with. Leverkusen are going to pay £30m plus bonuses for Quansah, with the German club requiring a long-term replacement for Jonathan Tah. Liverpool will earn £30m + on Quansah This should be viewed as a MASSIVE transfer win for Hughes - especially in the context of incoming deals. Jeremie Frimpong - for example - was acquired from Leverkusen when the Reds activated his £29.5m release clause. Advertisement And if anyone told you at the start of the summer that Liverpool would sign Frimpong in exchange for Quansah - with Leverkusen even adding a bit more on in bonuses - the deal would have been seen as far-fetched. But that is what is about to happen. Quansah is somewhat of a late bloomer and was playing League One football as recently as 2023. He's had two seasons in and around the Liverpool first team since being promoted by Jurgen Klopp. But in the cold light of day he is always likely to be third or fourth choice. © IMAGO Liverpool's sensational deal for Frimpong He has been at the club since the age of five, turning out for various youth teams before turning professional. Hughes has turned a player of that background into a deal worth £30m and more. Advertisement It is a huge bonus for the Reds. It means they are getting Frimpong for practically nothing. The Dutchman is 24 and a veteran of almost 200 top-level games with Leverkusen - named twice in the Bundesliga team of the season. He's a full international for the Netherlands - travelling to both the World Cup and European Championship as a squad member.
