Liverpool are set to lose out on Napoli man, Elseid Hysaj, as the player’s agent, Mario Giuffredi earlier revealed that the 24-year-old wants to remain with the Serie A outfit even without Maurizio Sarri as head coach. The latter has been targeted by Chelsea to be Antonio Conte’s replacement which prompted speculation over Hysaj’s future at the Stadio San Paolo.
The fullback has been courted by a number of Premier League clubs since the January transfer window and Liverpool were among the interested parties. The Reds reportedly were preparing an eye-catching bid for the Albanian international who has made 46 appearances for Napoli this campaign, furthering a single assist.
Hysaj holds the starting spot under the highly sought after Italian manager and has been instrumental in the team’s contention for the league title. Napoli will be finishing the 2017/18 Serie A campaign with a close second place to the 7-time consecutive champions, Juventus.
The Light Blues put up a hard fight to overcome Juventus’ dominance in the Italian top-flight but eventually failed, much to the frustration of Sarri. The Italian put together a well-drilled side with a real hunger to win major honours. However, the team crashed out of the European competitions in very poor fashion and let go of their 1-point advantage over the Old Lady in the final stretch of the season, with a 3-0 loss to Fiorentina.
Hysaj has been a standout performer on the defensive side, making timely interceptions and tackles to hold off elite opposition wingers. He has been blessed with blistering pace which allows him to drift forward whenever required.
Empoli ended up signing him when he was just 14, allowing him to make his first senior appearance on 9th October 2011 against Varese. Hysaj made headway for the Azzurri youth side to cement his place in the senior team and went on to make 109 appearances.
Napoli was quick to spot his talents in the Serie B and signed him in the summer of 2015, after the appointment of Sarri as their manager.
However, Liverpool might not be at much of a loss if Hysaj doesn’t turn up at Anfield next season after witnessing Trent Alexander-Arnold win the club’s Young Player Of The Season award two times in a row. The youngster has even been selected for the England national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and is due to stay at Anfield for a long time.
With Joe Gomez and Nathaniel Clyne as backups, Hysaj would only have been a surplus to their requirements and a total waste of their financial resources which could be better invested in more necessary requirements.
