Report: Napoli really appreciate £20m Arsenal player and would like to sign him this summer

Newly-appointed Napoli boss Antonio Conte is now considering a move for an Arsenal player that Mikel Arteta doesn’t want to lose this summer.

Just like this time last year, Arteta and Edu have ambitious plans to improve this Arsenal squad, hoping to lift a trophy next season.

In reality, Arsenal’s football and results deserved silverware last campaign, but just like 2022/23, they finished trophyless.

The level of Arteta’s football wasn’t the issue, and Arsenal certainly didn’t ‘bottle’ things this time around.

But perhaps the smallest of margins to Manchester City came down to Arsenal’s lack of squad depth, or rather, lack of players Arteta fully trusts.

Unlike Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, the Arsenal manager was reluctant to change his starting XI, perhaps causing fatigue in key moments.

That being said, this summer will be a careful balance of off-loading players the project has gone beyond, and finding stellar replacements.

And a big part of that decision in defence could hinge on Jakub Kiwior’s future.

Napoli now interested in Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior who is keen on Italy return

Kiwior has been linked with an Arsenal exit this summer, admired by new Juventus boss Thiago Motta, whom he worked with at Spezia before moving to England.

And according to the Daily Briefing, Napoli are also now seriously interested in Kiwior, alongside Juventus and AC Milan.

Jakub Kiwior of Poland controls the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 group D match between France and Poland at Football Stadium Dortmund on June 25,...

Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images

Arsenal are yet to receive any formal proposal for Kiwior this summer, and Arteta is determined to keep his left-sided defender, who is likely to return to a central role next season.

Signing for Arsenal for £20m in January of last year, Kiwior enjoyed a strong run in Arteta’s starting eleven as a left-back last season.

And given he was then usurped by Takehiro Tomiyasu in the closing weeks, some felt as if Kiwior has proved his limitations, and his time at Arsenal therefore may be up.

But it’s important to remember that Kiwior isn’t a left-back by trade, he’s never claimed to have the attacking instincts required.

The Poland international deserves to be judged on his games playing centrally for Arsenal, explaining why Arsenal would likely reject any advances from Napoli.