adminNottingham Forest Beat Napoli to Sign Dan Ndoye as Conte Opens Up on Transfer Battle
Nottingham Forest had to fend off strong competition from Napoli to land Dan Ndoye, with Napoli boss Antonio Conte now shedding light on how the deal fell through for the Serie A champions.
Forest were the first to make a move for the Swiss winger, but it quickly became clear that negotiations wouldn’t be straightforward. Napoli, looking to strengthen their wide options following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s departure in January, also entered the race.
Despite submitting their own offer, Napoli were unwilling to meet Bologna’s valuation for Ndoye—something Forest were able to capitalize on. Their decisive action put them in the driver’s seat, allowing them to secure the player’s signature.
With the new season just around the corner, Conte has spoken publicly about Napoli’s side of the story. Speaking ahead of Napoli’s friendly against Olympiacos, he explained how Ndoye slipped away:
“We are making evaluations. Ndoye was one of the names on our list, but the figures involved were too high. I respect him and even supported the idea, but the cost wasn’t right for Napoli, so he went elsewhere.”
Forest signed Ndoye for £34 million—a fee that appears to offer good value, especially when compared to the amount Newcastle paid for Anthony Elanga. In contrast, Napoli found the price too steep, highlighting the financial disparity between Premier League clubs and their Italian counterparts.
Forest Looking to Outmuscle Serie A Clubs Again in Transfer Market
With Forest officially securing a Europa League place on Monday, owner Evangelos Marinakis is ready to invest further in the squad before the transfer window closes. But once again, the club finds itself battling Italian heavyweights for key targets.
At right-back, Forest are going head-to-head with AC Milan for Jackson Tchatchoua, with reports suggesting Milan may try to sweeten the deal for Hellas Verona by offering players in exchange.
In midfield, Forest are also competing with Napoli for Yunus Musah, reigniting the transfer rivalry seen in the Ndoye saga.
It remains to be seen whether Forest’s Premier League resources will again triumph over the prestige of Serie A, but recent events suggest the financial muscle of English clubs could prove decisive.
admin
