Who Should Napoli Sign To Replace Kevin De Bruyne? Five January Targets As Belgian Sidelined Until March 2026

Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss at least four months after undergoing hamstring surgery, so we have identified five options for Napoli to target in the January transfer window.

When Will Kevin De Bruyne Return From Injury?

The former Manchester City star has enjoyed a strong start to his career in Naples, contributing to six goals in 11 appearances across all competitions (4G + 2A) – but his season could already be over.

During Napoli’s 3-1 win over Inter Milan on October 20th, De Bruyne was forced off in the 37th minute with a hamstring issue just four minutes after putting his side ahead from the penalty spot.

This issue caused the Belgian to miss Napoli’s last two Serie A encounters and most recently, being excluded from a 0-0 stalemate with Frankfurt in the Champions League.

After a variety of tests, the Napoli medical staff confirmed that De Bruyne required immediate hamstring surgery and in a recent social media post, the 34-year-old revealed that the operation had been a success.

Confirming an exact return date is not possible at this moment in time, however, several reports have suggested that the Belgian midfielder will be out for at least four months.

Losing Kevin De Bruyne will be a huge loss for Antonio Conte, as Napoli are hoping to retain their Scudetto title and be the best-performing Serie A team in the Champions League.

With De Bruyne expected to miss the majority of this season, Napoli will be on the hunt for some reinforcements in midfield during the January transfer window and some big names could be available.

Hi everyone, as you all know I will be sidelined for a while. The good news is that the surgery went perfect. My way back has already started! Thank you for all the messages! 💙 pic.twitter.com/r8VJ9ETqgg

— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) November 3, 2025

Who Should Napoli Sign To Replace Kevin De Bruyne?

Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Kobbie Mainoo has been one of the biggest talking points in England during recent weeks, as the English international has gone from one of th brightest prospects in Europe to a barely used substitute.

The young midfielder has accumulated just 228 minutes across all competitions this season and is yet to make a start in the Premier League, as Ruben Amorim prefers the likes of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount.

Moving away from his boyhood club looked to be a real possibility during the summer, as Mainoo requested a loan move on the final day of the transfer window.

Amorim refused to let the 20-year-old leave, but the murmurs of a possible departure caught the attention of several clubs and Napoli were reportedly the leading option.

Antonio Conte is said to be a huge fan of the Manchester United youngster and was considering a loan move before De Bruyne’s injury problems.

Napoli also have some leverage in negotiations due to their current squad holding two former Manchester United players in Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay – meaning a move for Mainoo could be a smooth process.

Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid)

Another option for the Serie A champions is a move for Real Madrid midfielder, Dani Ceballos, as the Spanish international is yet to cement his place under Xabi Alonso.

So far, Ceballos has made eight appearances in LaLiga but only three of these have come in the starting eleven and the Spaniard has only featured in one Champions League clash.

The 29-year-old’s deal with Los Blancos is set to expire in June 2027, meaning Madrid may be looking to offload him before he becomes available on a free next season.

Ceballos offers a far less goal threat than De Bruyne, however, his ability to dictate the game from a deep position could push McTominay back into the position that worked so well in the 2024/25 campaign.

Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)

Multiple Premier League stars have been linked with a move to Italy in January, with Joshua Zirkzee eyeing-up a Serie A return and Lucas Paqueta could be another player to make the trip over.

The Brazilian midfielder has been on the cusp of leaving East London on multiple occasions, most notably during the 2024 summer transfer window to Manchester City.

However, negotiations came to an end after Paqueta faced charges for potential gambling breaches, but these investigations have come to an end and the West Ham star was clear of any wrongdoing.

Paqueta’s form in the English capital has dwindled during the 2025/26 season and West Ham currently sit 18th in the table with just two wins in the league.

The 28-year-old was on target during West Ham’s recent 3-1 win over Newcastle and showed signs of the player that helped the Hammers win their first European trophy in 2023.

Unlike Ceballos, Paqueta offers more of a creative spark in the final third and would be a like-for-like swap for De Bruyne, which could get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund.

Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)

Leon Goretzka has been one of the elite midfielders in Europe for almost a decade and his time with Bayern Munich is set to come to a close at the end of this season.

The German’s deal with the Bavarians is set to expire in June 2026, meaning he can leave the club as a free agent next summer if Bayern do not offer a new deal.

Vincent Kompany has been keen to implement the youth during his time in Munich, meaning Goretzka could be forced out of the Allianz next year.

Napoli would be able to enter pre-contract negotiations with Goretzka in January, meaning he would agree a deal at the start of the year and complete the move in the summer window.

However, Bayern Munich may be keen on getting a fee for the German international and Napoli may commit to a permanent move in January due to De Bruyne’s absence.

Goretzka has won six Bundesliga titles, two DFB Pokal trophies and a Champions League, meaning he could add the same winning mentality that De Bruyne offers.

Alan Varela (Porto)

Our final candidate to fill the shoes of Kevin De Bruyne is Porto midfielder, Alan Varela, who is a very different profile to the Belgian but could bring the best out of Scott McTominay.

The 24-year-old joined Porto in August 2024 for €8 million after an impressive spell with Boca Juniors and has become one of the first names on the Portuguese sides’ team-sheet.

Playing as a defensive midfielder, Varela has added a sense of solidity to Porto’s core and is also key to their build-up play, boasting a wide passing range and composure.

Porto may be unwilling to let their star midfielder go in January, however, the Portuguese giants may consider a bid in the €45-50m region.