Napoli is preparing a transfer for a defender from a European national team

Napoli intends to bolster its defensive line in January and is actively seeking a center-back.

According to Calcio Now, the current Italian champions have found reinforcement for their troubled position in Ukraine. The Neapolitans aim to sign the Ukrainian national team and Shakhtar Donetsk's center-back, Mykola Matviyenko.

Shakhtar values their defender, who recently extended his contract until 2027, at 30 million euros. It's noted that this figure might be a challenge for Napoli, especially after selling Elif Elmas to RB Leipzig for 25 million euros.

Once the issue with the defender is resolved, Napoli plans to focus on acquiring a midfielder.

Matviyenko has been with Shakhtar since his youth and has played for the first team since 2017. In the orange and black shirt, the 27-year-old defender has featured in 185 matches across all competitions, scoring 12 goals.

The defender boasts extensive experience in the UEFA Champions League and has represented the Ukrainian national team in 61 matches.

Napoli is enduring a challenging season following last year's championship. Under Walter Mazzarri's management, the team currently sits in seventh place in the Serie A standings.