Napoli head coach Rafael Benitez has fielded questions about his reported raid on former club Liverpool for midfielder Lucas Leiva.
The Spaniard faced foreign and domestic reporters and addressed a wide range of topics ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.
Italian source Il Mattino has claimed since the start of July that both Benitez and Lucas want to work together again.
But when the boss spoke to Sky Italia this afternoon about the prospect of landing the 27-year-old and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Christoph Kramer, he was coy.
He said: “They are players from other teams.”
If the proposed move falls through Napoli are likely to step up their long-term interest in Tottenham Hotspur holding midfielder Sandro.
Consistent performer Lucas has been with Liverpool since the summer of 2007, when Benitez signed him from Gremio in his homeland. He penned a long-term deal in 2013.
Meanwhile, Benitez has also outlined his hopes for next term, having guided Napoli to Italian Cup glory and Champions League qualification last season.
He added: “We need to change small things to improve, not many. Scudetto? We aim to win something, such as the Italian Cup, Scudetto or the Champions League, but I can not say what.
“Now we build a competitive squad.”