Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret may challenge for the starting position next season, despite a campaign largely dominated by Vania Milinkovic-Savic, according to reports in Italy. The club is also monitoring Czech Republic international Matej Kovar, currently at PSV Eindhoven on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
Meret, who has won two Serie A titles with Napoli, saw his playing time significantly reduced this past season, making only 12 appearances across all competitions totaling 1070 minutes. An injury sustained earlier in the season contributed to this, allowing Milinkovic-Savic, signed for €22 million, to establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper under manager Walter Mazzarri. The report suggests Meret may question his standing within the club as he enters the final year of his contract.
Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, who will be taking over at AC Milan, reportedly favors traditional goalkeepers, potentially favoring Meret's skillset. However, the transfer market presents uncertainties, and Meret’s expiring contract means he has attracted interest from international clubs. Kovar, 26, has impressed while on loan at PSV Eindhoven, even featuring in a 6-2 victory in October, and Napoli may need to negotiate with Bayer Leverkusen or potentially Manchester United, where Kovar previously played alongside Scott McTominay, to secure his services.
In separate news, Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup after suffering a grade two knee sprain during an international friendly with Curaçao. The injury marks the third significant knee issue of Gilmour’s career, following previous setbacks with Chelsea and Brighton. Both Napoli and McTominay have publicly expressed support for the injured midfielder.
