Wednesday, 6th November, 2013
Rafael Benitez is ready to tackle Europe's bigwigs again as Chelsea and Real Madrid-linked midfielder Nemanja Matic roams into his sights at Napoli.
The Benfica man is understood to have a €50m release clause, and is linked with being a Liverpool transfer target as well.
According to Sky Italia, Napoli are preparing a January move, with €30m considered a possible compromise for the former Chelsea employee.
Contact between the two clubs is believed to be under way for a player that Benfica signed from Chelsea in 2011 and who is contracted until 2018.
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Matic spent two years at Chelsea during which he also had a season on loan at Vitesse in Holland.
He lined up against the Blues – managed by Benitez – this summer when Benfica lost the Europa League final.
The versatile player will be keenly watched leading up to the winter transfer window as new Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has already conducted scouting missions.
This summer, Matic was quoted as saying: "If someone like Jose Mourinho wants to bring me back to London, that would be a chance to prove that I can play in the Premier League."
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