Napoli are thought to be interested in signing Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva.
The club seems determined to strengthen in central midfield and with Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons also strongly linked with a move to the Partenopei and Lucas may also join in the summer.
According to Tuttosport, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is not satisfied with just Gonalons and has turned his gaze towards the 27-year-old Brazilian.
Current Azzurri coach Rafa Benitez is familiar with the former Gremio man seeing as he was manager at the Merseyside club when Lucas joined in 2007.
One potential stumbling block in the deal to take Lucas to the Stadio San Paolo is that he currently earns €4.5 million per season at Anfield after his contract was renewed in 2013 .
Napoli would only be willing to offer him €3.5m per season in a contract expected to last for five years.
Lucas also holds an Italian passport on account of his family’s heritage.
The Brazilian international has started 18 times for Liverpool during the 2013-14 Premier League season despite suffering from a knee injury.
