Napoli are interested in competing with AC Milan by bringing in a rising Belgian midfielder this summer.
The 20-year-old Belgian youth international Franks moved from Bundesliga powerhouse Wolfsburg to Serie A giants AC Milan on loan and an option to buy out in the transfer market last summer. Under manager Pioli this season, he has temporarily played a total of nine games, including two starts, and has not contributed goals or assists.
The youngster's highlight came in his final game before the World Cup off-season, when he came off the bench and used a cross to create confusion and help the Rossoneri score Fiorentina at home. Unfortunately, due to the lack of experience and the pressure of the team's record, Franks did not get a continuous opportunity to play later.
Despite this, AC Milan management Maldini and Marsala are still very optimistic about Franks' future development, believing that he can make a greater contribution after further integration into the team. The player's loan deal with the Rossoneri last summer included a €12 million buyout clause.
However, the Rossoneri prefer another loan extension to a direct activation of a buyout agreement, but such a request needs to be approved by the player's old club Wolfsburg. Recently, according to Italian media reports, this season's Serie A leader Napoli is also ready to try to bring in Franks this summer to increase the thickness of the team's multi-line stage in the new season. However, some analysts believe that this is just the result of the player's old club Wolfsburg and the agent joining forces to create a media campaign, because they hope to force AC Milan to finalize the player's future as soon as possible.
