Wolverhampton Wanderers have rejected an offer from Napoli to sign defender Max Kilman this summer for £30m, according to David Ornstein.

Napoli are in the market for a new center-back this summer as they are prepared for the exit of South Korea international Kim Min-Jae after only one season at the club. The former Fenerbahce defender has reached a full agreement with Bayern Munich over a move to Germany, and the German champions are prepared to pay his release clause.

To replace him, new Napoli manager Rudi Garcia has identified Kilman as a suitable target for his side. They went in with an initial bid of £30m which has been turned down by Wolves, who demand at least £34m to part ways with the 26-year-old defender, who is under contract until 2026 and has the option of a further year.

Wolves are under no pressure to sell Kilman, having already raised around £78m from the sales of Ruben Neves, Conor Coady and Nathan Collins this summer.

Napoli keen on Max Kilman signing

Napoli need to sign a centre-back as dominant as Kim, who was voted as the league’s best defender for 2022-23 after the Korean led the club to a first Scudetto since 1990.

Kilman joined Wolves U-23 in 2018 from Maidenhead United for £40,000 and has become an integral member of the club, making 107 senior appearances. The 26-year-old is expected to be tempted by the lure of the Champions League at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Wolves have set their asking price for Kilman as manager Julen Lopetegui is open to allowing him to leave despite losing centre-backs Coady and Collins this summer. The defender was also on the radar of Tottenham earlier in the summer.