Italian outlet Il Mattino are reporting that Newcastle have offered Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne a five year deal that would almost triple his current wages to around £4.3M.
The news is that Premier league club West Ham have also offered terms to the 25 year-old attacking midfielder.
Lorenzo Insigne – Napoli’s attacking midfielder
Lorenzo’s agent is Fabio Andreotti and he has been disappointed in contract negotiations with his current club Napoli, and has said this on Radio CRC:
“In our last meeting, we didn’t like some of the answers that the club gave us,” “Lorenzo made a decision with his heart, but a player’s professional life doesn’t last forever, and when other clubs are willing to reward you financially, then you’ve got to get onto the market.
“With a heavy heart, I must say that there are clubs that are considering us. Napoli don’t want to let him go, but the contract they’re offering does not satisfy us, we have better offers.”
According to La Gazetta della Sport the two sides were trying to negotiate a five year deal but the wages were low and only €2.5M (£2.2M) a year, while Andreotti wanted €3.5M (£3M).
It seems that Rafa Benitez may have been alerted to this by his various contacts having been manager at Napoli for two years from 2013, with Lorenzo Insigne having joined Napoli way back in 2006.
But there are other top clubs after the player and they include Inter-Milan, who made a £30M offer for Insigne only last summer and Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool have also interested in him.
There was news in February that Spurs were aiming to sign the player for £18M this summer, but the price will have gone up since then.
So while Newcastle may be in trying to do a deal for him, it will be very difficult for Rafa Benitez to persuade his former player to join Newcastle in England’s second division for the coming season.
Andreotti has also said there has been interest coming from top clubs:
“Three of the richest clubs in Europe want Lorenzo, and Sporting Director Cristiano Giuntoli has known this for a long time,”
“Napoli turned them down and we were happy about that, but then we didn’t like some of the things they told us.”
“His heart is in Naples, but the professional understands now that his path with Napoli could come to an end, considering what his situation is like with the club.”
Insigne has played for the Italy U-20 (5 caps – 1 goal) and U-21 (15 caps 7 goals) sides and has 12 full caps with 2 goals for his country.
Insigne made his Serie A debut with the club in January of 2010, under manager Walter Mazzarri in a 2–0 win over Livorno and made his senior International debut in September 2012, in a World Cup qualifier match against Malta in Modena.
Over the last four seasons Insigne has played 160 games for Napoli with 29 goals.
Comments welcome.
Note: The initiative “It’s Not Just Black and White” was partly inspired by the recent sad paparazzi photos of Paul Gascoigne, and a number of supporters have banded together to draw attention to the complexities of mental health and alcoholism – their action line is “It’s not just black and white”.
The group is not asking for donations but is simply keen to raise awareness of the problem through their web-site here.
33 comments so far
Our Toon
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:10 PM
Comment #1This would be some signing bit can’t believe it has in truth in it. Rafa being a former manager and media putting two and two together
GeordieTwo
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:11 PM
Comment #2Sounds like a tremendous player. Would he really come to us if AC Milan are after him? What is the actual offer I wonder? Would Sissy go the other way?
G
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:12 PM
Comment #3Agent talk I reckon, would love it to be true, would be an amazing signing.
jazzyp
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:12 PM
Comment #4Heard we have bid for Messi as well
colwell
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:13 PM
Comment #5Hahahaha brilliant like we could attract Insigne here even if we were in the prem never going to happen.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:15 PM
Comment #6Villa are getting destroyed by Luton in this cup tie
Although the way Luton are playing I think we would struggle to deal with this pace and work rate and would probably get spanked as well
Fostino
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:18 PM
Comment #7We have rafa now..You never know. Give him the 10 jersey
colwell
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:22 PM
Comment #8Fostino
Yes we do and Colback,Anita,Shelvey,Dummett I bet Insigne can’t wait to link up with so much talent.
Just because 1 newspaper puts a story out there does not mean there is any truth in it especially something as far fetched as this.
Jib
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:23 PM
Comment #9http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/agent-insigne-he-could-leave-napoli-he-has-offers-from-three-big-637730
welshgeordie9
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:25 PM
Comment #10It’s been confirmed, Aarons has signed a 5 year deal.
Awesome news.
Jib
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:25 PM
Comment #11http://www.spazionapoli.it/2016/08/10/benitez-insigne-newcastle/
welshgeordie9
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:27 PM
Comment #12Lee Ryder – Verified account ?@lee_ryder
Rolando Aarons confirms new deal at #nufc 5 years
welshgeordie9
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:28 PM
Comment #13Lee Ryder
Lee Ryder – Verified account ?@lee_ryder
Aarons said: “It’s something that was always going to happen, but it’s nice to get it done” #nufc
1:18 pm – 10 Aug 2016
Jib
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:28 PM
Comment #14EXCLUSIVE / The Benitez plan for Insigne: he wants to build the Newcastle of the future around him
GeordieTwo
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:28 PM
Comment #15Good to see Aarons signed up. Now he needs to stay fit and prove himself on the pitch.
NUFCPaul
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:30 PM
Comment #16If this player signs for us, I’ll do something in Fenwicks window. Maybe a lovely floral display. Or a delightful Christmas scene in December.
He’ll never come to Newcastle if other teams in the top leagues want him. All part of our punishment for getting relegated. Still, I never thought Rafa would stay, so you never know in this funny old game we call football.
Fostino
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:31 PM
Comment #17Colwell
One can always hope. Don’t presume players aren’t motivated by money either. Just look at pelle
http://www.google.ie/search?q=pelle+shandong+luneng+chinese+wearing+the+jersey&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi8hY2H2LfOAhVJC8AKHZ6PABEQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=512#tbm=isch&q=pelle+shandong+luneng+chinese+wearing+the+jersey&imgdii=kKVMwR1jKY_piM%3A%3BgZ-lnzKvbUd66M%3A%3BgZ-lnzKvbUd66M%3A&imgrc=gZ-lnzKvbUd66M%3A
jimmysmith
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:33 PM
Comment #18If Sissoko goes, and there’s a good argument he should ideally after his behaviours in the close season, then we need to draft in a player of this calibre to replace him. I imagine its going to be one or the other. A lesser player will make promotion less certain.
If he gets the 35 million for Sissoko he then has to attract a top player with it, and if he doesn’t succeed we are drawn back towards the chasing pack. He won’t let Sissoko go easily unless he can adequately replace him, and that can’t be with a ten million pound player.
jimmysmith
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:36 PM
Comment #19It’s still very possible that Benitez will get tough with Sissoko and tell him we need him and that he’s staying, and we do need him or a player of similar quality in the same position, i.e. best player in the Championship.
Bambams
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:37 PM
Comment #20Not a cat in ….. chance.
Over the moon with Aarons !
Three points needed on Saturday and I know we will get them.
Expect to see Diame start alongside Shelvey
Ritchie and Aarons on the wings
Gayle up front with Sissoko just behind him…..Mmm I wonder ? Rafa risk him ?
spaghetti bandit
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:38 PM
Comment #21One of the biggest reasons I was gutted to be relagated was because I wanted Rafa to go after insigne even though we had never been linked jus I love tht type of player n hoped Benitez would want to work again with him .. Howay make this happen
AndyMac
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:42 PM
Comment #22According to Transfermarkt his current market value is £21.25m. So a non story ?
Moonraker15
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:45 PM
Comment #23Give them Sissy plus 5 million and pay the lad big money ! Simples
lochinvar
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:45 PM
Comment #24Well done Aarons – that shows a great deal of maturity and confidence in Rafa’s belief in your future. I suspect that we will now see him play with greater fluency born out of a clear mindset that he can get on play without worrying about contracts and the like. Onwards and upwards .
chicousa
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:46 PM
Comment #25Bambara
Aye mate- so glad Aaron’s has signed extension.
With all the attention going to new signings, and getting rid of deadwood, nice to see the club show they value the lads who have been here for a while and who (generally) perform well!
chicousa
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:46 PM
Comment #26Bambams (blasted spell checker)
Our Toon
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:48 PM
Comment #27Bambams
I like Aaron’s in the team but I’d never start the lad ahead of the options we have at the minute. It’s important to have a holding player and Diame doing that role would be an absolute waste. Aaron’s since showing a lot of promise in his first season, he’s shown absolutely nothing since other than how to rot on the treatment table.
For me as I said on previous thread it’s got to be:
Hayden, Shelvey
Ritchie, Diame, Sissoko
Gayle
Mbemba replacing Hanley at the back.
In all honesty I’d put tiote in ahead of Hayden but Rafa won’t start Tiote
Moonraker15
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:49 PM
Comment #28Andy Mac
I don’t think he will come but not cos of the fee which we could easily afford! 25 million Euros ain’t that big of we get 40 for Sissy !
Bambams
Aug 10, 2016 at 9:54 PM
Comment #29Our Toon
I can see your point re Diame but I haven’t seen enough of him to know exactly what type of player he is.
I think Aarons could be a surprise this season if he stays fit and gets his confidence back.
But Tiote for me is well past his best, I just think he is prone to ‘stupidness’ giving away daft fouls or caught in possession.
But that’s just my opinion fella.
Cheers for the craic
Chicousa
I have been called worse !
tomellifred360
Aug 10, 2016 at 10:52 PM
Comment #30Fantasy Football League for NUFC fans. All welcome to join.
76984-188980
chicousa
Aug 10, 2016 at 11:29 PM
Comment #31The year before last Aarons was injured almost the entire season. But last year he was relatively healthy, missing only a few weeks in the fall. But McClown seemed incapable of give Rolando any playing time and when he DID play him it was out of position (Left Back? FFS!) And TBH Aarons when he did get some playing time at his normal position was inconsistent. But towards the very end of the season Rafa brought him in at the end of a few matches and he started to impress, especially that last game against the Spurs!
Big Archie
Aug 11, 2016 at 2:40 AM
Comment #32Just another example of an agent trying to improve his players conditions by throwing names around.
custurd
Aug 11, 2016 at 12:55 PM
Comment #33I’m not being heightist, BUT, Lorenzo Insigne is an inch shorter than Vurnon Anita! Fabio Cannavaro, one of the greatest defenders ever, was a shorty too, but he had freakish aerial ability. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Cannavaro, or any thing even close, so we need some taller bodies in the team ‘cos at the moment we win nowt in the air.