Napoli hope to end attacker Erik Lamela’s Tottenham Hotspur nightmare by luring him back to Serie A during the summer transfer window, according to fresh reports in Italy.
Il Mattino claims the Argentina international features prominently on a list of targets drawn up in Naples, and an offer could be made in the coming weeks.
Lamela became Tottenham’s most expensive player when they broke their transfer record last summer, paying Roma £30million to secure his services.
He was one of the players tasked with filling the boots of Welsh winger Gareth Bale, who left for La Liga giants Real Madrid, but Lamela flopped in north London.
The 22-year-old made only nine Premier League appearances, mustering no goals in the process, before swiftly falling out of favour and seeing most of his action restricted to cup competitions.
He has not kicked a ball for Spurs since the 3-0 win against Stoke City on December 29 after sustaining a serious back injury.
His fall from grace in the last 12 months means the White Hart Lane outfit are unlikely to recoup anywhere near the amount they paid for him just a year ago, if they do decide to cut their losses.
Napoli could test the water with a loan bid, although the appointment of Lamela’s compatriot Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs head coach could rejuvenate him in the 2014-15 season if he remains in England.