​Newcastle United are braced for a £18m offer from Italian club Napoli for striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.





The Serie A side, who were once managed by current Magpies boss Rafael Benitez, are ready to tempt the capricious Serbian striker with a big-money move to the Italian league, according to the ​Mirror.





Mitrovic was signed for £13m from Anderlecht in 2015 and has endeared himself to the Toon Army, despite his poor disciplinary record, being sent off twice during his first season in England.





Napoli are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements after selling Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus and seeing his replacement, Arkadiusz Milik, suffer a serious knee ligament injury that will see him sidelined for months.

Italian heavyweights planning £18m January bid for Newcastle hero Mitrovic #NUFC https://t.co/uTZp5JmT3m pic.twitter.com/uQjVRHiC7V — Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) November 5, 2016

However, according to the Chronicle, Newcastle are unwilling to sell Mitrovic, while also claiming the player is happy and settled on Tyneside.





Indeed, Mitrovic recently said: “The fans here are very special and the people here want to talk to you in the city about the team and football. That’s their passion.





“We need to keep the bond good between the fans and the club this season. It is an amazing feeling at the moment to be a player.”

In addition, with Newcastle three points clear at the top of the Championship table, there is a great chance that Mitrovic will be afforded the opportunity to prove himself next season in the Premier League.





Benitez is keen to keep his squad in tact while making a few signings in January as he meticulously constructs and readies his side for the rigours of the top tier.

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