Napoli Eyeing €40m Striker From Serie A Rivals As Potential Lucca Replacement
The 6ft 2in striker is finding his feet in Serie A.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 09 January 2026
Napoli are reportedly keeping tabs on Roma on-loan striker Evan Ferguson in case Lorenzo Lucca leaves.
Lucca has struggled at Napoli during his maiden campaign. He is now on the radar of Benfica and Nottingham Forest.
With Napoli challenging for the Serie A title, Antonio Conte will want a high-quality replacement who can hit the ground running.
The Partenopei are looking at Roma and, while Artem Dovbyk is a player of interest, Ferguson has also emerged as a target too.
Napoli eyeing Evan Ferguson in case Roma pull plug on Brighton man’s loan
According to Sky Italia, Napoli head coach Antonio Conte likes Ferguson, who has been going from strength to strength at Roma.
Ferguson, 21, moved to Roma from English side Brighton last summer on a season-long loan with a €40m option to buy.
He has shown glimpses of his quality in Italy, scoring and featuring regularly under Gian Piero Gasperini.
💎 Paulo ➡️ Evan ☘️#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/IszkxpNmNr
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) January 7, 2026
However, Gasperini has criticised Ferguson in recent weeks, even as he turned a corner.
While it may be a case of tough love, it suggests Roma are not fully convinced about the Brighton man.
And if the Giallorossi were to end Ferguson’s loan prematurely, Napoli would join the race to snap him up.
What Evan Ferguson could bring to Roma
With Lucca flattering to deceive and Romelu Lukaku only just back from injury, Napoli’s goalscoring responsibilities have largely fallen to Rasmus Hojlund.
As a result, Conte needs to bring in some reinforcements, but they can’t be passengers.
Ferguson would be a good shout for Napoli, as he ticks a lot of boxes for both the present and the future.
He is technically good, tall and strong, has an eye for goal, boasts predatory instincy, and is great at holding up the ball.
At just 21 years of age, he has his whole future ahead of him, but he is also showing he can hold his own in Serie A.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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