City bound: Edinson Cavani is on his way to the Premier League (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Manchester City appear set to beat Chelsea to the signing of Edinson Cavani with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitting negotiations have begun over a deal that could include Edin Dzeko heading in the opposite direction.

De Laurentiis was in England with the Italians’ sporting director Riccardo Bigon and managing director Andrea Chiavelli for meetings on Monday.

It was suggested that the delegation were in London to try and persuade outgoing Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez to become Napoli’s new head coach.

However, De Laurentiis rejected this notion and instead revealed that talks over a possible deal to exchange Cavani for Dzeko plus cash had taken place.


Pointing the way: But is Dzeko destined for pastures new? (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I did not go to London for Benitez,’ he said. ‘Yesterday I was in London with (managing director Andrea) Chiavelli and Bigon and for a simple reason: I have to prepare for the release of the film about Steve Jobs.



‘However, I told Bigon, ‘Go to City and take the chance to negotiate over Dzeko and see what they are willing to do for Cavani’.’

Uruguayan striker Cavani, 26, is one of the hottest properties in Europe having scored 36 goals in 41 appearances this season.

Chelsea had appeared to be winning the race but the lure of the unwanted Dzeko in return looks to have swung things back in City’s favour.

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