Napoli looking to make a swoop on Chelsea’s overcrowded midfield

Napoli are looking to take advantage of Chelsea’s increasingly-growing midfield contingent, with the Serie A side in discussions with the Blues over a cut-price deal for Portuguese international Raul Meireles.

 Meireles has already played for three different clubs in the last two years, having first moved to Liverpool from Porto for £10.2 million in 2010, and then again to Chelsea the following season for a fee of around £12 million.

 However, despite making a total of 45 appearances for the Blues in the previous season, the 29-year old’s future is again at risk after manager Roberto di Matteo’s spending spree over the summer.

 Meireles does not want to fall behind in the Chelsea pecking order and warm the bench at Stamford Bridge, while Di Matteo could help the Blues’ rising wage bill by offloading the Portuguese international.

 Napoli, who have been monitoring Meireles’ situation all summer, have been alerted by this, with manager Walter Mazzarri keen on adding the heavily experienced midfielder to his side.

 The Partenopei have money to burn as well, having sold striker Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG earlier in the summer, and are ready to part with £8 million for the central midfielder.

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