Benitez Wants to Keep Chelsea Target Cavani at His New Club Napoli for Next Season.

Rafael Benitez and Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Rafael Benitez and Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Newly- appointed Napoli coach Rafa Benitez will want Edinson Cavani to remain at Napoli this summer. The Spaniard will hold crunch talks with the Uruguayan striker with the aim of convincing him to stay at the club for one more year.

Having scored 29 goals in 34 league games for Napoli, Cavani has been a long- term target of Manchester City, who just last week were told to back up their interest in the Uruguayan by offering Edin Dzeko in a £60 million player- plus- cash deal for Cavani.

Chelsea are the other club interested in the 26- year- old but believes £50 million transfer fee is far too outrageous, given that his wage demands are £250k/ week.

City are ready to offer the £50m by offering £30m- rated Dzeko plus £20m in cash, but Napoli wants the transfer fee to be nearer £60m and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis want City to act up or back off.

Benitez was announced Napoli’s new coach on Monday on a two- year contract. He will be replacing Walter Mazzari who will be joining Inter Milan, Benitez’s former club.