Who Antonio Conte could bring in this summer to replace an injured Romelu Lukaku at Napoli is now the dominant question in Italian football.
Lukaku, who was born in Belgium but also carries DR Congolese heritage through his parents, had been central to the Partenopei’s resurgence under Conte.
His absence, caused by a thigh injury in a pre-season clash with Olympiacos, will sideline him for up to four months, creating a major void in attack at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Napoli’s revival under Conte came swiftly after the club’s collapse in 2023/24, when three managers failed to steady the reigning champions. By last season, Lukaku’s partnership with his former Inter boss yielded another Scudetto, secured by a single point over Inter.
The Belgian-DR Congolese forward was Napoli’s top scorer with 14 league goals and 10 assists, while also ranking among Serie A’s most efficient finishers.
His injury now compels Conte and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to act decisively in the market. Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have emerged as potential options, though their modest returns at Old Trafford raise doubts.
Reports suggest Hojlund is close to a loan switch with an obligation to buy, a move that could end his difficult United stint and give Napoli a stop-gap solution.
Roma’s Artem Dovbyk and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta are also being considered. Mateta, who scored 17 goals for Palace last season, offers physicality and penalty-box instincts reminiscent of Lukaku, though Palace may resist another major departure. Dovbyk, meanwhile, impressed in his debut Serie A campaign with 12 goals, but Roma would be reluctant sellers.
Napoli’s hunt for a replacement underscores Conte’s urgency to maintain momentum. Whoever steps in must quickly replicate Lukaku’s influence if the champions are to mount a serious defence of their title and compete in Europe.
