Salvatore Esposito urges Napoli to sign Atalanta’s Lookman as Kvaratskhelia nears PSG move

Famous Italian actor Salvatore Esposito has voiced his desire to see Ademola Lookman replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Napoli following the Georgian star’s impending move to Paris Saint-Germain, Soccernet.football reports.

Napoli’s playmaker Kvaratskhelia is on the brink of joining PSG after the Italian champions reportedly agreed to a deal worth over €70 million ($72m/£59m) with the French giants.

Despite strong competition from Premier League sides Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United, PSG have emerged as the frontrunners to secure Kvaratskhelia’s signature, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

This move comes after PSG’s failed double swoop in the summer of 2024, which included an ambitious bid for both Kvaratskhelia and his Napoli teammate Victor Osimhen. While that attempt fell through, the Parisians renewed their pursuit of Kvaratskhelia in the January transfer window.

Since joining Napoli, Kvaratskhelia has been a pivotal figure, scoring 30 goals in 107 appearances and playing a key role in their 2022-23 Scudetto triumph. His departure represents a significant loss for the Serie A champions.

However, Salvatore Esposito, a lifelong Napoli fan best known for his role as Gennaro Savastano in the acclaimed Sky Italia series Gomorrah, has identified Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho as ideal replacements for Kvaratskhelia.

“In place of the Georgian, Garnacho I really like him, but I would take Lookman right away, even if I don’t think Atalanta would let him go in January,” Esposito said on Radio Punto Zero, as reported by Tutto Napoli.

He added, “We need to understand if in January they want to take a more versatile player who can be a reserve, leaving Neres and Politano as starters. Neres is the strongest winger in Serie A together with Lookman, and it is difficult to put him on the bench.”

Lookman, widely regarded as one of the finest wingers in the world, recently won the African Player of the Year award and finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings as the only African player on the shortlist.

Despite Lookman’s growing reputation, reports suggest that Atalanta are unwilling to entertain any transfer interest in their star player. The Nigerian international is also said to be on the radar of Juventus, further complicating any potential move to Napoli.