Napoli’s pursuit of Lucas Leiva hangs in the balance due to Liverpool’s valuation of the midfielder.
Italian source Il Mattino claims head coach Rafael Benitez remains keen on a reunion with the Brazil international, who played under the Spaniard when he was at the Anfield helm.
However, Benitez’s former employers are said to be dragging their heels as they have no immediate desire to part company with the 27-year-old.
He put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with the Merseyside team only last year.
According to the report, Napoli must stump up at least £4million in order to tempt the Reds into discussing the potential sale and, with the Serie A club monitoring a number of alternative targets, the proposed deal could fall through.
They are ready to revisit the situation next week but further negotiations are unlikely to take place this weekend as they take stock of their options.
Lucas still managed to make 29 appearances for the Premier League runners-up in the 2013-14 campaign despite two spells on the sidelines through injury.
He has been with Liverpool since the summer of 2007, when Benitez signed him from Gremio, and after a slow start he went on to establish himself as an important squad player.