Cavani rejects Chelsea for now, but Newcastle target Napoli teammate
Published:Since Walter Mazzarri took charge of Napoli late in 2009, the club have gone from strength to strength and as a result it is no surprise that another summer beckons attempting to fend off interest for their star players.
The good news for Napoli is that leading striker Edinson Cavani insists he wishes to stay in Italy, meaning that interest from Chelsea and Manchester City is unlikely to result in any transfer dealings.
Jose Mourinho has suggested that Cavani would be towards the top of his shortlist should he return to Stamford Bridge, but it may take a large package to tempt him from Napoli.
Fellow frontmen Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik are others sure to generate European interest, while Gokhan Inler has previously been on the radar of the likes of Arsenal.
However, it is Inler’s Swiss teammate and lesser-known Blerim Dzemaili that has come to the attention of Newcastle.
Dzemaili has unfinished business in the Premier League after a previous injury-plagued spell at Bolton and could be allowed to leave for a fee in the region of £8m.
The versatility of Dzemaili could be a major asset to Newcastle as he can play wide or through the middle in midfield and may even prove a worthy replacement should Alan Pardew be forced into selling Yohan Cabaye or Cheick Tiote in the summer.
Meanwhile, he may prove an able deputy if Jonas Gutierrez or Hatem Ben Arfa get injured on the wings, especially if Newcastle are unsuccessful in their chase for known transfer target Tranquillo Barnetta in the summer.
But Newcastle are expected to face stiff competition for Dzemaili particularly from Germany, with Stuttgart and Borussia Monchengladbach thought to be interested in gaining his signature.
Finishing in the top four would be a big bonus to Newcastle’s hopes of signing some summer big names and this can currently be backed at 14/1.
