Monaco Sets Sights on Lukaku: Napoli Asking €10 Million
Belgian striker wants to stay in Europe, with the principality club seeking a replacement for Balogun. Turkish side Trabzon and MLS's Atlanta United are also in the mix.
Belgian striker wants to stay in Europe, with the principality club seeking a replacement for Balogun. Turkish side Trabzon and MLS's Atlanta United are also in the mix.
Romelu Lukaku, Napoli and Belgium striker, is on the verge of parting ways with the Italian champions, with Monaco surprisingly entering the race for his signature. The news was reported by Gazzetta dello Sport on August 7, 2026, and carried by Kurir.rs and N1 BiH.
Lukaku has just endured an extremely difficult season at Napoli, where he was brought in by coach Antonio Conte. Due to injury problems, he spent 196 days on the sidelines, missing 34 matches across all competitions. Over the entire season, he managed just 64 minutes of action spread across seven appearances, scoring only one goal.
Italian media suggest that his behavior was an additional reason for the split. According to Kurir, Napoli is willing to sell him for around €10 million to quickly raise funds for new signings. Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has already been mentioned as a potential replacement.
The Belgian has been linked in recent days with a move to MLS, where Atlanta United showed interest, but he is currently not keen on a move to the United States. While he doesn't rule out a future switch to MLS or Saudi Arabia, his priority is to stay in Europe.
Monaco had not been mentioned among potential destinations until now, making the news of the French club's interest a surprise. The principality club is making inquiries about Lukaku, particularly due to the possibility of losing Folarin Balogun this summer, whose departure is reportedly drawing closer. There is also interest from Turkey, with Trabzon standing out as the most serious candidate.
Negotiations, however, won't be straightforward. Journalist Sacha Tavolieri highlights that the question of Lukaku's wages, which amount to €7 million net per year, is extremely complex. Should he continue his career at Monaco, Lukaku would once again share a dressing room with long-time friend and former teammate Paul Pogba.
Lukaku also had a notable performance at the recently concluded World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where he delivered excellent displays for Belgium. It remains to be seen whether Monaco's interest will turn into a concrete offer and whether the Belgian will play club football in France for the first time.
