Napoli midfielder Jonathan De Guzman is engaged in ongoing negotiations over a move to English Premier League club Sunderland.
The 27-year-old featured regularly for Swansea City during two successful seasons before his move to Serie A in 2014.
Tuttosport reported on Wednesday that Sunderland might be the Dutch international’s last hope of first team action this season after a rumored link to French club Marseille failed to materialise.
The Azzurri are thought to be still in the market for another midfielder and central defender but have not been impressed enough by De Guzman to include him in the club’s future plans.
Villarreal loaned De Guzman out to the Welsh club for two consecutive seasons during which he made 71 Premier League appearances and impressed enough to earn a move to Naples in the summer of 2014.
De Guzman made 23 league appearances for the Partenopei since his arrival but failed to live up to the expectations set by his performances for Swansea.
