Napoli is preparing an opening offer of €17.5 million (£15m) to secure Chelsea centre-back Benoît Badiashile as the Italian club addresses a growing defensive injury crisis. The proposed bid falls significantly short of Chelsea’s reported valuation of around €30m, suggesting potentially difficult negotiations lie ahead between the two clubs.
Defensive Crisis Forces Action
The Serie A side’s urgent need for reinforcements follows confirmation that defender Alessandro Buongiorno will miss the next two to three months after undergoing knee surgery. The Italy international’s absence compounds existing concerns within manager Antonio Conte’s squad, with Sam Beukema also struggling to reach full fitness and veteran Juan Jesus having departed the club as a free agent.
These circumstances have left the Partenopei with severely limited options at the back, prompting the club to prioritise the acquisition of a left-footed centre-half before the transfer window closes. Badiashile has emerged as the preferred candidate to fill this gap, with the French international offering the physical presence and technical ability required for Conte’s defensive system.
Badiashile Bid Details
According to reports in Italy, Napoli’s proposed €17.5m offer represents little more than half of Chelsea’s asking price. This significant gap in valuation indicates that extended talks may be required to reach a compromise.
Napoli’s preferred structure for any deal would involve an initial loan move with an option to purchase the 23-year-old defender at the season’s end. This formula would allow the Serie A club to assess Badiashile’s adaptation to Italian football before committing to a permanent transfer, while also managing immediate financial outlay.
West Ham Alternative
Should negotiations with Chelsea prove unsuccessful, Napoli has identified an alternative target in Jean-Clair Todibo of West Ham United. The French defender only joined the Hammers permanently last summer for a fee of €40m following an initial loan spell from OGC Nice.
However, West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League has placed significant doubt over Todibo’s future at the London Stadium. The defender is expected to seek a move to maintain top-flight football rather than play in the Championship next season. This situation could provide Napoli with leverage to secure the 25-year-old, though any deal would likely require substantial financial outlay given the east London club’s significant initial investment just twelve months ago.
The coming days will prove crucial as Napoli works to resolve its defensive shortage ahead of the new campaign, with pre-season preparations already underway.