Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Napoli targeting six midfielders

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says he may well have a surprise up his sleeve as he chooses from six transfer targets this summer.

The Serie A club have made no secret that Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini is one of their targets, but De Laurentiis says they have their eyes on five further midfielders, and that not necessarily only one of them will be arriving.

"We are following six midfielders and it's not certain that only one of the players [coach Rafael] Benitez wants will arrive because we might be selling some players too," De Laurentiis told Naples' Radio Kiss Kiss. "What matters most is anybody we're interested in wants to play for Napoli because the positive outcome to negotiations depends on many factors, and we can't force anybody."

The Napoli president did not give any clues as to who the other five targets may be, other than to say he has every faith in Benitez's eye for talent.

"Rafa hasn't ever got it wrong," he said. "Just look at [Kalidou] Koulibaly, who was another one of his intuitions, even though we mustn't be putting too much pressure on the lad."

Napoli have already reduce the number of midfielders on their books this summer by selling Valon Behrami to Hamburg, which is why more than just one may arrive to strengthen the side for a title challenge this season.

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