Chelsea make move for Man City target Cavani

Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed he has been contacted by Chelsea over the availability of striker Edinson Cavani.

Cavani has been linked with a move away from the Serie A club for some time, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid all said to be interested.

All three clubs were also linked with a move for Radamel Falcao, but with the Colombian joining Monaco Cavani could become the subject of a transfer tussle this summer.

Chelsea appear to have made the first move for the Uruguayan hit man, with De Laurentiis confirming the Stamford Bridge-based club have been in touch over a potential deal.

"On Cavani there is big interest in him from Chelsea,’ he said.

"Chelsea have called me and I expect they will again in the next few hours."

Napoli fans had previously been assured that Cavani was willing to stay put for next season.

"I'm very happy that his brother has said that he will stay," De Laurentiis continued. "But if he did decide to go to Chelsea we would take time out to think and replace him with people worthy of replacing him."

Any move for Cavani is likely to be expensive for Chelsea - the 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause written into his contract worth in excess of €60 million.

Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for Cavani in the past under former boss Roberto Mancini, and reports suggested Edin Dzeko could be used in a player-plus-cash deal.

Whether Manuel Pellegrini, expected to be announced as the Citizens' next manager in the coming days, will also target a move for the Serie A striker remains to be seen.

Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms