1 Alvaro Arbeloa

Napoli are considering rivaling Arsenal for the signature of former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa.

Reports last week suggested the Gunners are eyeing the Spaniard as a potential replacement for club captain Thomas Vermaelen, who is on the radar of Barcelona and Manchester United having fallen out of favour at the Emirates.

Arbeloa was usurped as Real Madrid’s first-choice right-back by Dani Carvajal last term and could be seen as expendable by Bernabeu boss Carlo Ancelotti this summer.

talkSPORT told you last year that Napoli manager Rafa Benitez, who signed Arbeloa for Liverpool during his time at Anfield, wanted a reunion with the versatile defender in Italy and it is believed he has revived his interest in the 31-year-old.

The former Spain international has two years left to run on his deal in the Spanish capital and would command a fee of around £4.5m.

Arbeloa earned 56 caps before calling time on his international career and was part of the Spain squads that triumphed at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.