Conte demands Napoli to provide a substitute for Lukaku

The Belgian forward has suffered an injury and will be out of action for several months

Héctor Andreu | 18 Aug 2025 | 17.44
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Lukaku has been injured, and Napoli wants another forward.
Lukaku has been injured, and Napoli wants another forward.

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Atletico Madrid Athletic Club
25/04/26 21:00:00
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Napoli is going through a delicate moment at the beginning of this season. The injury to Romelu Lukaku, confirmed after the latest medical tests, is a severe blow for the team led by Antonio Conte.

The Belgian forward is suffering from a muscle injury that will keep him away from the field at least until mid-October. The absence of a player of his caliber forces the Napoli sporting director to act swiftly in this final stretch of the transfer market.

The Neapolitan club is aware that they cannot face a busy schedule of commitments without a reliable center forward. Therefore, Conte has already conveyed his preferences to the leadership, placing a player he knows well from Serie A at the top of the list: Artem Dovbyk. The Ukrainian striker, currently at AS Roma, is not in good form and would be keen on a change. His lack of playing time and a strained relationship with the Roman coach have opened the door for an immediate exit.

Dovbyk, the priority for Napoli's attack

Conte sees Dovbyk as the ideal player to fill Lukaku's void. Powerful, with aerial ability and defensive sacrifice, he fits perfectly into the style Napoli wants to impose. According to several sources in Italy, the operation could speed up in the coming days, aiming for the Ukrainian's arrival before the end of the transfer window.

However, Napoli is not solely working in that direction. Concurrently, another name has gained strength: Alexander Sorloth. The Norwegian forward arrived at Atletico Madrid last summer after an impressive season at Villarreal, but his situation at the Madrid team has not met expectations. The competition in the attacking line-up limits his minutes, and a transfer is not ruled out.

Sorloth, due to his physical attributes and style of play, fits what Conte desires: a strong striker, capable of drawing central defenders and offering solutions in direct play. Additionally, his knowledge of La Liga and experience in top European competitions stand as an advantage for Napoli, which aims to maintain competitiveness in both Serie A and the Champions League.

Sorloth could be Napoli's new signing

The final decision will depend on several factors: the availability of selling clubs, the players' contractual situations, and, of course, the financial figures that Aurelio De Laurentiis, the Napoli president, is willing to assume. The urgency to find a Lukaku replacement may require an extra effort in the market, although the sporting direction will seek an operation that does not jeopardize financial stability.

In any case, the priority is clear: sign a number nine who can contribute goals and presence in the penalty area from day one. Conte is eager to close the deal as soon as possible. With the season just starting, losing a key player like Lukaku is a serious setback, and Napoli understands that their ambitions in the Italian championship depend on an immediate response in the market.

In a matter of days, it will be known whether Dovbyk or Sorloth will be chosen to reinforce an attacking line that cannot afford to be without a leader at the worst possible moment.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Conte exige al Nápoles un sustituto para Lukaku

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