Napoli have failed in their last-gasp bid to sign Matteo Politano from Sassuolo after seemingly agreeing terms for €29m plus Adam Ounas on loan.
According to Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia, the two clubs had finally reached an agreement with an hour to go, but couldn’t finalise the contracts in time.
They had eventually agreed on €28m plus €1m in bonuses, Ounas on loan and the possible arrival of Diego Farias from Cagliari.
The January transfer window in Italy formally closed at 22.00 GMT.
Napoli have failed in their last-gasp bid to sign Matteo Politano from Sassuolo after seemingly agreeing terms for €29m plus Adam Ounas on loan.
According to Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia, the two clubs had finally reached an agreement with an hour to go, but couldn’t finalise the contracts in time.
They had eventually agreed on €28m plus €1m in bonuses, Ounas on loan and the possible arrival of Diego Farias from Cagliari.
The January transfer window in Italy formally closed at 22.00 GMT.
The 24-year-old winger was their second choice after Simone Verdi refused to leave Bologna in the January window.
Although Politano was desperate to make the move to the Stadio San Paolo, but Sassuolo would not release him without a suitable replacement.
With just an hour left before the transfer deadline, there was finally a breakthrough, with Cagliari recalling North Korean striker Han Kwang-Song early from his loan at Perugia.
This in theory allowed Diego Farias to leave Sardinia, going to Sassuolo, while Napoli also got Ounas to agree a loan move to the Mapei Stadium.
This and €25m finally prompted the Neroverdi to allow Politano his move to Serie A leaders Napoli, but it was too late.
Versatile winger Politano has contributed three goals and three assists in 20 Serie A games for Sassuolo this season.
He started out in the Roma youth academy, with loan spells at Perugia and Pescara before joining the Reggio-Emilia side in 2015.