Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia is reportedly a transfer target for southern giants Napoli, with a potential swap deal for Paolo Cannavaro mooted in the January transfer window.

Ranocchia has fallen out of favour with Mazzarri due to the arrival of Rolando on loan last summer and has failed to convince in the 14 appearances he has made in an Inter shirt this season.

Reports have emerged in Rome based newspaper Il Roma suggesting that Napoli are interested in the Italian centre-back, who could help bolster Rafa Benitez’s defensive line. Whilst Inter coach, Walter Mazzarri, is determined to bring the Neapolitan captain Cannavaro to Milan, to add to his options.

The club signed Ranocchia in December 2010, paying €19 million to secure his economic rights from Genoa, but the Italian has failed to live up to the hype surrounding him and his exit couldn’t be timelier as Inter look to add to their squad.

However, Napoli face competition from German side Borussia Dortmund who have also been linked with a move for Ranocchia in the January mercato as they look to cover their injury hit squad.

Cannavaro’s arrival at Inter is plausible as Mazzarri is keen to work with his former captain again and sees his experience as necessary to boost Inter’s push for European qualification.

The Napoli captain has made 226 appearances for the Partenopei since joining from Parma in 2006, scoring on seven occasions.