Revealed: How much will Napoli receive if Forest sign Lucca permanently

Lorenzo Lucca’s difficult season shows no sign of turning around at Nottingham Forest, raising serious questions about whether the English club will take up their option to sign him permanently this summer, and leaving Napoli facing a potentially costly headache.

The Italian striker joined Forest on loan in January, with the Premier League side holding an option to purchase him outright for €35 million.

On current evidence, that clause looks unlikely to be exercised, according to the latest reports from CalcioMercato.

Lucca has managed just 120 minutes of Premier League football since arriving in England, starting only once, against Wolverhampton, and has done little to impress in two Europa League appearances against Fenerbahce, being substituted at half-time in the second leg to widespread criticism from supporters online.

Napoli could pocket €35m from Lucca sale but Forest buyout unlikely

It represents a continuation of the miserable form that defined his six months under Antonio Conte at Napoli, where the chemistry between player and manager never materialised. Despite costing the club close to €40 million following his impressive 12-goal campaign at Udinese, Lucca started just four Serie A matches for Napoli and is perhaps best remembered for his red card during the 2-6 humiliation in Eindhoven.

Conte raised no objection to his January departure, and Forest’s managerial instability, four different managers already this season, has done Lucca no favours either.

Should Forest decline to trigger the purchase option, Napoli will find themselves with a striker who still has a contract until 2030 but whose market value has fallen considerably.

Recouping anything close to their original investment looks increasingly improbable, leaving the club with a significant financial problem to solve in the summer window.