Napoli are hopeful of completing a deal to sign James Rodriguez.

The Colombian has emerged as a target for the Serie A outfit after Bayern Munich chose not to sign him permanently following a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid.

And Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful of reuniting with James, whom he signed while in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2014.

"I don't know if he'll come, but we hope so,” Ancelotti told reporters, per Goal.

Yet one contentious matter remains ahead of the proposed move - what number James will wear.

The 27-year-old wore the No.10 shirt at Real Madrid and wears it for Colombia, too.

But the No.10 shirt has been retired by Napoli in tribute to Diego Maradona.

'Don't touch the No.10 shirt'

Maradona is a Napoli legend, helping the club win two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup during their successful period in the 1980s.

His No.10 shirt was retired in 2000 and hasn’t been used since.

And Maradona’s son, Diego Maradona Junior, has warned James against taking the No.10.

"Don't touch the No.10 [shirt]. It's private property of the family," Maradona Jr told Marca. "It's my father's.

"There were rumours that they'd give it to [Gonzalo] Higuain when he arrived, then to [Lorenzo] Insigne, but it has to be like in the NBA.

"If you retire a shirt number, you can't use it again."

That’s you told, James.

Yet despite his attitude towards James possibly taking his father’s old number, Maradona Jr is excited at the playmaker’s potential move to Napoli.

“I always comment telling [James] to go to Napoli on his photos," Maradona Jr added.

"I put pressure on him and recently he liked one of my comments.

"It's a dream that James is coming to Napoli. A footballer of this quality, with his left foot, can make the team better.

"The city will welcome him with open arms and I'm sure that he'll be able to perform at his best."