Lukaku’s Naples exit edges closer as Turkish club enters talks

The final act of Romelu Lukaku’s time at Napoli is approaching. The 33-year-old Belgian striker did not join his teammates at the club’s pre-season training base in Castel di Sangro on Wednesday, prompting the club to confirm extra rest days after his World Cup exertions.

Napoli stated Lukaku had been granted additional recovery time following Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Spain, the eventual champions, which ended 2-1. The club’s announcement followed the striker’s absence from the squad’s scheduled pre-season session.

Fenerbahçe are now leading the race to sign Lukaku. Aziz Yildirim, the Istanbul club’s president, is personally handling negotiations with the player’s representatives. The Turkish side has moved swiftly to secure the veteran attacker’s signature.

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The potential move comes after Mohamed Salah’s surprise switch to Trabzonspor, another Turkish club, earlier this summer. Lukaku currently serves as understudy to Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli and has one year remaining on his contract at the Stadio Diego Maradona.

Lukaku’s reported annual salary at Napoli stands at €11 million. He joined the Partenopei from Chelsea in August 2024 for a reported fee of €30.7 million.

Atlanta United of MLS have also entered the frame for the Belgian international, though the American club has questioned the €10 million price tag set by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis for Lukaku’s transfer.