Dejan Kulusevski has once again found himself at the centre of transfer attention, and this time it is Napoli and Antonio Conte who are pushing his name to the top of their wishlist.
According to reports from Area Napoli, the Italian coach views the Tottenham midfielder as a dream signing and someone who could immediately transform their midfield issues this season.
Napoli are currently facing something close to a midfield crisis, and the club’s leadership is already working urgently to find solutions when the January transfer window opens.
Conte and Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna are said to be reviewing several possible targets, but Kulusevski is the one that Conte finds most appealing.
The Swedish international worked with Conte at Tottenham, and the coach has never hidden his admiration for the player’s intelligence, drive, and versatility.
For Conte, he is not just a good option he is the favourite. But even with his interest, there is an acceptance in Italy that this deal is very difficult to achieve. One report even describes it as an “impossible dream” at this stage.
Tottenham’s position is clear. They are not keen to sell Kulusevski in January under any circumstance. The player has been out for months due to injury and has not yet featured this season, but Spurs still see him as a key part of their long-term project.
They believe once he returns, he will play an important role, especially with the demands of the Premier League and the club’s ambition to strengthen their attacking depth.
For this reason, they would only even consider a sale if Napoli or any other club came forward with what has been described as a “substantial offer.”
What qualifies as substantial is not mentioned, but it would need to be an amount that forces Tottenham to think twice. Spurs’ stance is firm because they know Kulusevski has significant value when fit, and selling him midway through the season would leave them needing to find a replacement under time pressure.
It also helps that the player himself has not pushed for any move and remains committed to proving himself again once he returns from injury.
Napoli, however, are desperate enough that they may consider making a serious offer. Their midfield has been hit by injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of creative spark. Conte wants someone who can bring energy, dynamism, and a direct approach to their play.
Kulusevski fits that description perfectly. His ability to play wide, drift inside, create chances, and press aggressively is exactly what Conte demands from his attacking midfielders. It is no surprise he sees the Tottenham man as an ideal solution.
This is not the first time Napoli have explored the idea of signing Kulusevski. They have shown interest in the past but never managed to push the deal over the line.
Whether they finally make the decisive move now depends on how far they are willing to go to satisfy Conte and whether the urgency of their midfield situation forces them into a bold bid.
Even then, Tottenham’s reluctance could stop the move before it even starts. The fact that Kulusevski has been unavailable for months also makes a January transfer feel unrealistic.
Napoli would essentially be gambling on a player who has not played this season, and Tottenham would be giving up someone they expect to return and contribute as the campaign progresses. Both sides have reasons to hesitate.
Still, Area Napoli insist that he remains firmly on Napoli’s list of targets. Conte’s admiration alone keeps the interest alive, even if the chances of a deal are slim.
January transfers often surprise people, and Napoli are clearly exploring every possibility to fix their midfield problems quickly.
For now, the story remains one of ambition rather than expectation. Conte may dream of bringing Kulusevski to Naples, but unless a huge offer arrives, Tottenham are fully prepared to hold on to a player they still believe in.
