Napoli secure Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in thrilling transfer swap with Torino

The move strengthens Napoli's squad as they aim to maintain their competitive edge in Serie A under manager Antonio Conte.

Renowned transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Napoli opted to pay 22.5 million euros for the Serbian goalkeeper, bypassing his 19 million euro release clause to secure a more flexible payment plan.

Milinkovic-Savic, 28, has been a mainstay for Torino, featuring in 158 matches, conceding 163 goals, and keeping 52 clean sheets over four seasons as their first-choice goalkeeper.

His towering 203cm frame, commanding presence, and ability to play out from the back make him an ideal fit for Conte's system, where he will compete with Alex Meret for the starting spot. "Vanja is the perfect solution for us," Conte has said, praising the goalkeeper's physicality and personality.

In a parallel move, Napoli have sent Cyril Ngonge to Torino on a loan deal with a 1 million euro fee and an option to buy for 17 million euros, a figure recently raised from an initial 11 million euros, according to posts on X.

The Belgian winger, signed by Napoli from Verona for 20 million euros in 2023, struggled for regular minutes, often overshadowed in the squad. Now, Ngonge reunites with Torino's coach Marco Baroni, under whom he thrived at Verona, notably scoring a crucial brace in a 2023 relegation play-off against Spezia. "Ngonge is a quality addition for us," Baroni has said, highlighting the winger's technical ability and versatility.

Torino have moved swiftly to replace Milinkovic-Savic, securing Franco Israel from Sporting CP for approximately 4.5 million euros, with Juventus set to receive a portion of the fee due to a sell-on clause from Israel's time in their youth setup.

The 25-year-old Uruguayan, who has one cap for his national team, is expected to undergo medicals and sign a contract until 2029. "Israel is ready to step up," Torino's director Davide Vagnati has said, signaling confidence in the goalkeeper's potential.

The double deal, finalized after weeks of intense negotiations, is set to be completed by Thursday, with both Milinkovic-Savic and Ngonge scheduled for medicals.

Napoli's strategic acquisition and Torino's proactive response underline their ambition for the upcoming Serie A campaign, promising an exciting season ahead for both clubs.

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