Napoli weighs future of Lukaku and De Bruyne amid contract and wage concerns

SSC Napoli is reviewing the futures of its two Belgian marquee players, striker Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. Lukaku, still under contract for one season, commands a salary of about €8.5 million and was bought for roughly €30 million. His high wages have attracted interest from clubs such as Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, Monaco and Ajax, but he has set a transfer fee demand of over €6 million per year, which Napoli says could hinder a sale. The club sees a possible departure as a way to ease its payroll.

De Bruyne, meanwhile, is recovering from a high‑grade hamstring injury that sidelined him for most of the season. He returned to training in February 2026 and his contract runs until 2027 with a salary around €5.5 million per year. While North‑American clubs have shown interest, the player has expressed a desire for a short break and has not indicated a willingness to leave. President Aurelio De Laurentis, sporting director Giovanni Manna and coach Massimiliano Allegri are weighing sporting value against financial sustainability as they decide whether to retain both Belgians for the next campaign.