Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentis has reportedly dashed head coach Rafael Benitez’s hopes of landing Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
According to Italian source La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Serie A outfit cannot afford to match the Red Devils’ asking price and have also struggled to meet the Belgium international’s salary expectations.
He is said to have demanded almost £4million per year in wages, but Napoli are believed to be reluctant to jeopardise their salary structure.
The report claims De Laurentis has now renewed his interest in Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva, and will intensify his efforts to lure him to the club in the coming weeks.
Only yesterday Benitez told Sky Italia he was confident of buying Fellaini, saying: “He is with Manchester United but we are hopefully positive.
“It seems that we are waiting for (United manager Louis) van Gaal. He is a great player, but he is with another team and we must wait.”
Fellaini has not justified the £27.5million price tag placed on his shoulders following his switch from Everton last summer and is yet to score a goal for United.
The Italians feel Lucas is more affordable and have been encouraged by his representatives agreeing personal terms in Rome last month.