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Man Utd, Liverpool on alert as Napoli give green light for big overhaul

Napoli are planning a big overhaul at the club this summer led by the departure of boss Gennaro Gattuso, according to a report in Italy.

The Naples-based club will bring the curtain down on their season and know a win over Verona will secure a place in the Champions League for next season. However, there will be big changes this summer with a number of players and the coach set to move on.

The Gazzetta dello Sport report that Gattuso will be moved on by president Aurelio De Laurentiis. The pair’s relationship has broken down with De Laurentiis placing a “press ban” on the young coach.

Gattuso’s agent Jorge Mendes is understood to have been speaking with Premier League and LaLiga clubs. And the paper claims “certainly Gattuso will leave Napoli with the worry of having grown a beautiful plant without being able to reap the benefits”.

The 43-year-old’s reputation remains intact, but he will one of several big departures this summer.

Defender Kalidou Koulibaly looks likely to be offloaded “even if not at the figures of three years ago”. The 29-year-old was priced in the €100m bracket and Liverpool and Manchester United were sniffing around the centre-back a few years ago.

He was understood to be close to an exit. But De Laurentiis is now ready to sanction a move this summer, even though the price tag will be well below the €100m quoted in recent seasons.

Liverpool may well be interested. Their defensive plans seem far from resolved with a decision still to be made over Ozan Kabak. 

Liverpool can purchase Kabak permanently for £18m. Kabak wants to stay, but Jurgen Klopp has yet to decide.

United are another team on the hunt for a new defender and an attractive price tag may be all that they need to move for the experienced defender.

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Fabian Ruiz to leave Napoli

Tiemoue Bakayoko will return to Chelsea after his loan spell, while Fabian Ruiz could be another big-name departure.

The 25-year-old Spain international has two years to run on his deal. However, a new start looks likely, per the source.

Ruiz has developed into a full international in Naples and Atletico Madrid have been tipped to land the former Real Betis star.

According tTodofichajes, Carlo Ancelotti would like to sign Ruiz. In fact, last year a report claimed he had already made contact with the player.

Before that Jurgen Klopp’s side were among those most heavily interested in the the player.

READ MORE: Fernandes urges Man Utd to sign ‘top’ Serie A star ‘better’ than he is

 

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