De Laurentiis confirms enquiry for £40m rated Italian starlet wanted by Chelsea

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that the Serie A league leaders have enquired about Fiorentina midfielder Federico Chiesa.

The Italian under 21 international has also been heavily linked with Chelsea in the past few months but speaking to the Corriere Dello Sport about Napoli’s interest in the 19 year old, De Laurentiis said he had spoken recently to Fiorentina co-owner Andrea Delle Valle about the player’s situation:

“I asked [about] Federico Chiesa to Della Valle just twenty days ago.”

The Corriere Dello Sport report that Fiorentina may only sell Chiesa for €40m; a similar amount to what Juventus paid for winger Federico Bernardeschi in the summer.

It is believed that Napoli will be patient in their pursuit of the midfielder, and rather than making a bid in the January transfer window, they will make an approach for the player next summer instead.

Chiesa has had a good start to the season for Fiorentina, having scored two goals in six league appearances for the Viola so far.