Marouane Fellaini to Confirm United Exit for Napoli

Marouane Fellaini will today reportedly tell Napoli he will join them despite featuring in Manchester United's opening Premier League match on Saturday.

The Belgian midfielder has been linked with a move to the Naples club all summer after United manager Louis van Gaal decided he did not feature in his plans at Old Trafford.

The move hit a stumbling block over how much compensation Napoli would pay the Premier League club, with reports from Italy claiming the two clubs were €2m (£1.6m) apart on their respective valuations.

One key part of discussions was Napoli's insistence United paid the 26-year-old's £3.2m wages, plus any bonuses he earned at the Italian club.

It was thought that Fellaini would not feature for United at all this season after scoring in van Gaal's first match in front of the Old Trafford faithful last week against Valencia.

But United's mounting injury list, and inactivity in the transfer market, meant he was named as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea City on Saturday, coming on as a second-half replacement for £29m summer signing Ander Herrera.

Despite the cameo, Italian daily La Gazzetta Dello Sport reports negotiations between Fellaini and Napoli are ongoing and he is expected to announce his intention to join them following their Champions League qualification match against Athletic Bilbao.

Ex-Liverpool manager Benitez highlighted Fellaini as a replacement for Swiss international Valon Behrami, who has departed Italy for Germany and Hamburg.

Fellaini was absent from United's pre-season tour of America after being given time to rest following Belgium's quarter-final appearance at the World Cup.

The former Everton player was signed for £27.5m on the final day of the summer transfer window last year by sacked manager David Moyes but has failed to make an impression at Old Trafford making just 16 appearances.