With the recent rumours of Chelsea looking at purchasing Lorenzo Insigne, we examine the positives and negatives for the three involved parties if a transfer was to occur.
Having been linked with a move to Chelsea, what could the change bring for Chelsea, Napoli and the in-form man himself, Lorenzo Insigne?
Positives for Chelsea
If Chelsea did pick up Insigne in an upcoming transfer window, there is no question they would be picking up a talented 24-year-old with a good future ahead of him. This would add even more depth to an already strong, although currently struggling, Chelsea squad.
Insigne can play almost anywhere in an advanced midfield role and has recently been playing on the left-wing for current club Napoli. Having a player that covers many positions gives the club plenty of options on game day or for impact if things are not working.
Negatives for Chelsea
In the form that Insigne has shown this season, he will likely only leave for a fairly hefty price tag. The player can be compared to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling and as such, could put his transfer fee around the £50 million mark. Yet, this is a sum Chelsea could easily afford.
With the team the Blues have already, however, there appears no place in the starting lineup for Insigne with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Pedro taking up his positions. Spending this much money on a player who is not guaranteed a starting berth is excessive.
Looking at Insigne’s medical history does not make for kind reading off the back of a season-ending knee injury last season and a few knocks this year.
Positives for Napoli
There is only one real positive for his current club and that would be a rather large injection of funds that it can use to replace a world class player of Insigne’s quality.
Negatives for Napoli
There are a number of down sides for Napoli should they opt to sell. Insigne has been outstanding so far this season and has been the catalyst for most of their wins against quality opponents such as Juventus, AC Milan and Lazio. Losing Insigne would leave a big hole to be filled and could leave Napoli short later in the season with fewer players willing to move during the winter.
The club would then need to find an apt replacement that can fill Insigne’s boots. Finding someone suited to the Italian style of play that can come straight into the team and start doing what Insigne has done, is extremely tough and also expensive, which may mean settling for a lesser player effecting their Serie A and Europa League hopes.
Positives for Lorenzo Insigne
Moving to the English Premier League presents new and exciting opportunities for players and this may be a big reason for Insigne to go in that he will get to play in another of the worlds highest quality leagues. He will be able to challenge himself in a new environment against different types and styles of players to what he is used to in Italy. If he went to Chelsea, it would also mean that based on Chelsea at the moment he would have the opportunity to play Champions League, which most players dream about.
Although it is “never about the money”, the likelihood of him getting a pay rise is extremely high at such a big club, with European success. This is something that may be a tempter to move to the Premier League.
Negatives for Lorenzo Insigne
Despite getting the opportunity to play in a different league, opportunities would be Insigne’s biggest issue in the move. Considering the squad that Chelsea have, getting the same game time he gets at Napoli would be difficult. With the likes of the aforementioned Hazard, Oscar, Pedro and Willian, there is fierce competition for a start.
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A midseason move and settling into a new league provides challenges of its own – just ask Juan Cuadrado. It is something that is not always heavily considered, but moving to a new country takes time to settle and may affect his game.
Should the transfer be made?
Insigne is better served staying with Napoli, but there is a good chance that he could move in a matter of time. The opportunity to start matches regularly at Chelsea presents an incredible opportunity for the player, but it would be a massive loss for the Partenopei.
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