Napoli reject Chelsea's €40m-plus-Torres bid for Cavani, and other transfer News

The Serie A club are holding out for a fee close to the Uruguayan's €63m release clause, with the Spanish giants ready to enter the race for the highly coveted striker

Chelsea have offered Fernando Torres to Napoli in a €63 million player-plus-cash bid for Edinson Cavani.

The big-spending Londoners have indicated in discussions with the Serie A club that they are willing to pay €40m in cash plus offer Torres in part-exchange for the prolific Uruguayan.

But Napoli are holding out for a greater cash sum that is close to Cavani's €63m release clause as Real Madrid prepare to enter the race for one of Europe's hottest properties.
It is understood that the Spanish giants have made the prolific front man their No.1 striker target this summer ahead of Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

Cavani also tops Chelsea's shortlist after they missed out on Radamel Falcao, who joined Monaco for €60m earlier in June.

However, in an echo of their pursuit of Falcao, the Premier League club are reluctant to pay a club record cash sum for the Napoli star.

Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for Torres this summer, although returning Blues manager Jose Mourinho said on Monday that nothing will be decided until he holds talks with the Spaniard upon his return from international duty at the Confederations Cup.

This paves the way for Madrid to blow Chelsea and Manchester City, who have offered £25.5m plus Edin Dzeko to Napoli in part-exchange for Cavani, out of the water.

It is believed that Los Blancos are preparing a mammoth offer for the forward after holding talks with the player's representatives.

The Uruguayan has made little secret of his desire to play for Madrid or Barcelona, although he has insistedthat he will not discuss his Napoli future until after he has played in the Confederations Cup with Uruguay.

“Everything is uncertain at the moment. Today I have a contract with Napoli, but on the other hand there are some conversations going on and now things are a bit dynamic," he told OMNISPORT.
 What I know is that I belong to Napoli and that I'm thinking about my national team because we have a very difficult qualifying game away to Venezuela and we also have a difficult Confederations Cup tournament to deal with. After all these commitments I'll think about what is going to happen."

Napoli want a bidding war for their prize asset as they hold out for a fee close to Cavani's buy-out clause.

"Cavani has a contract for another four years and a buy-out clause worth €63m," De Laurentiis wrote on Twitter in a question-and-answer session in early June.

"We have received many offers for Cavani but all of them were much lower than the buy-out clause."

Cavani is one of the most highly sought-after centre forwards in the world following three prolific seasons at Napoli, which have yielded an astonishing 102 goals in 124 matches for the club in all competitions.

De Laurentiis has publicly insisted that Napoli will replace their star man with another proven striker if they are forced into selling him.

Despite manager Rafael Benitez's successful working relationship with Torres, most memorably at Liverpool, it is understood that he would prefer to sign Dzeko ahead of the Spain international.

However, Napoli's preference is to hold out for a cash fee for Cavani and use some of the proceeds to recruit the striker of their choice.

LEWANDOWSKI NOT GIVING UP ON BAYERN MOVE

The Poland international remains hopeful of securing his transfer to the treble-winners sooner rather than later

Robert Lewandowski has not given up hope of joining Bayern Munich this summer despite Borussia Dortmund's declaration that they will not sell the striker to their Bundesliga rivals.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke revealed earlier this week that BVB will not allow the 24-year-old to join the treble-winners, before adding that they could cash in on the striker if another club than Bayern matches their valuation of Lewandowski.

However, the Poland international is confident that Dortmund will change their stance on his future and let him move to the Bavarians after all.

"I do not think that this is the final decision of the board of directors and I expect the situation to change shortly," the striker was quoted as saying by DPA.

"I am enjoying my holiday for now, but I hope things move forward pretty soon and the situation changes. I do not get upset about anything."

Lewandowski's contract with Dortmund runs until June 2014, but he is keen to leave the club this summer.

The Spain international has recently been linked with a return to the Premier League and the Blaugrana will not keep him at the club against his will

Josep Bartomeu has revealed that Cesc Fabregas could be allowed to leave Barcelona if the midfielder wants to move on this summer.

The Spain international has been linked with a return to Arsenal on more than one occasion, while Denis Irwin revealed this week that Manchester United are keen to lure the 26-year-old back to England, too.

Fabregas has a contract with Barca until June 2016, but the Blaugrana's vice-president has insisted that they will not keep the midfielder at the club against his will.

"Cesc will only leave the club if he himself wants to move on," Bartomeu said when questioned about Fabregas' future at a fan event in Arenys de Munt.

The midfielder himself, meanwhile, has downplayed rumours that he could leave the Camp Nou side ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

"I’m very happy, it's taken a lot to get where I am and I don't plan on throwing that away for anything," Fabregas told Onda Cero.

"The truth is that if I didn't feel that I was wanted it would be different, but I haven't been told anything. I'm very happy, the truth is that I want to triumph with Barcelona."

Barcelona vice-president admits Fabregas could leave

 

The Spain international has recently been linked with a return to the Premier League and the Blaugrana will not keep him at the club against his will

Josep Bartomeu has revealed that Cesc Fabregas could be allowed to leave Barcelona if the midfielder wants to move on this summer.

The Spain international has been linked with a return to Arsenal on more than one occasion, while Denis Irwin revealed this week that Manchester United are keen to lure the 26-year-old back to England, too.

Fabregas has a contract with Barca until June 2016, but the Blaugrana's vice-president has insisted that they will not keep the midfielder at the club against his will.

"Cesc will only leave the club if he himself wants to move on," Bartomeu said when questioned about Fabregas' future at a fan event in Arenys de Munt.

The midfielder himself, meanwhile, has downplayed rumours that he could leave the Camp Nou side ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

"I’m very happy, it's taken a lot to get where I am and I don't plan on throwing that away for anything," Fabregas told Onda Cero.

"The truth is that if I didn't feel that I was wanted it would be different, but I haven't been told anything. I'm very happy, the truth is that I want to triumph with Barcelona."
Fabregas played a key role in Barca's Liga title in 2012-13 as he netted 11 goals in 32 appearances.

Real Madrid complete €6 million Casemiro signing

 

The Brazilian has inked a four-year deal with los Blancos after spending last season on loan with the youth team

Brazil starlet Casemiro has signed a permanent deal with Real Madrid after the club activated his €6 million release clause.

The 18-year-old joined the Madrid Castilla on loan from Sao Paolo in December, and made 15 appearances for the club, including one showing for the senior side against Betis in April.

The club released an official statement on their website to confirm the news, revealing that the player has penned a four-year deal with last season's Liga runners-up after they opted to activate his €6 million release clause at Sao Paulo.

Attacking midfielder Casemiro, who has 15 caps to his name for the Brazil Under-20 side, becomes Madrid's second signing of the summer after full-back Dani Carvajal rejoined from Bayer Leverkusen.