Leandro Damiao
Napoli are in talks to sign Leandro Damiao and Gonzalo Higuain from under the noses of Spurs & Arsenal. (Reuters)

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has confirmed via his Twitter account that the club are negotiating deals to sign Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur transfer targets Gonzalo Higuain and Leandro Damiao.

Higuain has been linked with a move to the Emirates throughout the summer and had seemingly been on the brink of a move before the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as new Real Madrid manager complicated matters.

Brazilian international Damiao has been on Andre Villas-Boas' radar since last summer, with Internacional now ready to cash in on the 23-year-old after demanding €25m for their prized asset.

But developments in Naples may force the north London rivals into action, or they risk losing out on the coveted stars altogether. Edinson Cavani yesterday sealed his move from the Serie A outfit to Paris Saint Germain in a deal worth a reported €64m leaving his former club flushed with cash and the Napoli president has indicated replacements for the Uruguayan international have already been identified.

"With €64.5m (from the Cavani sale) and the €60m I had budgeted, that means we have €124.5m to invest in Napoli with diligence and experience," De Laurentiis responded through his Twitter page when quizzed on the club's finances.

During a Q&A session he was so asked if talks for Higuain and Damiao were ongoing, to which he responded: "It is true."

The outspoken Napoli chief also confirmed that Real Madrid centre half Raul Albiol is undergoing a medical with the club ahead of a summer move.

Despite Laurentiis' claims of talks with the La Liga giants over Higuain's future, comments made by an agent working with both Real Madrid and the Argentine international suggest that Ancelotti still wants the striker at his disposal next season.

Gonzalo Higuain

However, Napoli's financial clout and the likely assurance of greater first team football opportunities at the Stadio Sao Paolo next season could be enough to tempt Higuain into forcing through a move.

Should Napoli, whose second place finish in Serie A last season secured them a Champions League place, confirm deals for the two strikers, it would be another blow to the plans of both north London managers as they attempt to strengthen their forward options with an established forward.

Both Arsenal and Spurs missed out on former Barcelona striker David Villa, who joined Atletico Madrid in what could be one of the bargain deals of the summer last week. The Spaniard admitted a move to a Premier League side - almost certain to have been to one of the north London rivals - was a priority before Diego Simeone's side entered the equation.

Although Tottenham's interest in Brazil international Damiao has faded slightly in recent weeks, the sight of another forward target closing in on a move will be a frustrating one as the club still seek to address their striking concerns.

Tottenham's striking options of last season in Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe offered a paltry 16 league goals between them last campaign, and with the Togolese international heavily linked with a move to Turkish outfit Besiktas, Villas-Boas is in urgent need of reinforcements.

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