Napoli Confirm Interest in Liverpool Midfielder Lucas

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed the club are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva this summer in addition to Swansea City forward Michu.

Liverpool have already added three names to their squad in Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Emre Can but Brendan Rodgers is keen to further strengthen his squad ahead of their return to Champions League competition next season.

The club have attempted to bring Dejan Lovren to Anfield but have seen an opening bid of £20m for the centre half rejected by Southampton.

After Lovren declared his "head is already in Liverpool" the Reds are expected to return with an improved offer, but may look to offload some of their current squad in order to balance the books.

27-year-old Lucas would appear to be a name deemed expendable by Rodgers who has added steel to his midfield in the capture of German Under-21 international Can.

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez could benefit from this development after Napoli's outspoken president confirming Lucas, in addition to Spanish forward Michu, are being considered.

"Michu and Leiva? We continue to monitor the situation," De Laurentiis told Sky Italia. "We're having discussions, probably we are also doing some contract drafting."

Lucas' move to Naples would reunite him with the man who originally brought him to the Premier League in 2007 and De Laurentiis insists he has complete faith in his Benitez's decisions over the coming months.

"I am very calm. Benitez gives me peace of mind, we've been agreed since the first meeting. Fans can say what they want, but we cannot just buy to satisfy them, and not just replace or develop other players."

Liverpool have spent in the region of £40m so far this summer but have showed no signs of slowing down in the transfer market. Belgian starlet Divock Origi was at the club's Melwood training facilities on Wednesday ahead of a proposed £9.8m move that could see him return to Lille on loan next season.

The club are also understood to be deep in talks with Benfica over a move for the highly-rated Lazar Markovic, who could cost the club £25m.