Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly keeping tabs on the progress of Eljif Elmas, valued at €17 million by Serie A table-toppers Napoli.
According to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona and Real Madrid are closely monitoring the progress of Eljif Elmas. The 22-year-old midfielder is valued at around €17 million by current Serie A table-toppers Napoli.
Eljif Elmas joined Napoli from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2019 and has since progressed leaps and bounds. Initially, the young midfielder was a rotation option for the Serie A giants. However, he has enjoyed a steep rise in stature in the past year, with the appointment of Luciano Spalletti ahead of the ongoing season being the major catalyst in his advent.
Elmas has played every single game for Napoli this term, chipping in with two goals and as many assists in 16 appearances across all competitions. Most recently, he played a pivotal role in North Macedonia’s 3-1 win over Iceland, which clinched a playoff spot to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His progress has alerted the two biggest clubs in Spain, with Barcelona and Real Madrid keen on signing him.
Barcelona have been touted to be in the market for a midfielder after choosing not to sign one in the summer, despite offloading Ilaix Moriba and Miralem Pjanic. While Gavi and Nico Gonzalez have impressed in the opportunities that have been afforded to them, Sergio Busquets’s advancing age is prompting Barcelona to remain alert in the transfer market.
As a result, the Catalan giants have been linked with midfielders like Thiago Alcantara, Marc Roca and Franck Kessie, with Elmas also a viable target. On the other hand, Real Madrid have set their sights on Elmas at the behest of Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian tactician was at the helm at Napoli when Elmas arrived at the Serie A club two years ago. Since then, Ancelotti has kept a keen eye on his progress and is now eager to reunite with the 22-year-old at Real Madrid, who are scouring the market for a possible long-term successor for Luka Modric.
To that end, Lovro Majer, Paul Pogba and Donny van de Beek are among those linked with Los Blancos. Elmas is also an option worth considering, and his €17 million price tag would make him even more appealing a target for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
So, it remains to be seen if either of the Spanish clubs launch the offensive for Elmas anytime soon. For now, Barcelona and Real Madrid are tracking his progress at Napoli, and it will be interesting to see if his time at Serie A winds down with a switch to La Liga soon.
