Napoli are reportedly preparing a bid for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Italian source La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the Serie A outfit are ready to test the north London club’s resolve to hang on to a player who proved to be a hit in his first season in English football.
After arriving from Dutch giants Ajax 12 months ago he went on to become a consistent figure who was at the heart of Spurs’ attacking moves, and while most of their other summer acquisitions flopped the Denmark international excelled.
If chairman Daniel Levy decides to cash in he will demand significantly more than the £11.5million he parted with a year ago, but as yet there is no indication as to whether he is likely to do business.
Eriksen still has four years remaining on his lucrative contract.
Napoli manager Rafael Benitez, formerly of Liverpool and Chelsea, has so far been frustrated in his attempts to strengthen his midfield ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.
He missed out on Barcelona hardman Javier Mascherano, who signed a new contract at the Nou Camp, and is still waiting for his former employers on Merseyside to make a decision on the future of Lucas Leiva.