Watford's Odion Ighalo 'unlikely' to join Napoli in January - agent

The agent of Watford striker Odion Ighalo says his client is "unlikely" to move to Napoli in the winter, despite reported interest from the Serie A club.

Ighalo, 27, is one of the names being linked with a move to Napoli this winter to fill the void left by the long-term injury to summer signing Arkadiusz Milik.

Manolo Gabbiadini has failed to convince in place of the Poland international -- who is not expected to return to action until March at the earliest -- and his red card against Crotone at the weekend has appeared to convince club bosses to look for a new forward in January.

"In the past two years, Ighalo's been on an excellent run with 36 goals overall," Ighalo's agent, Patrick Bastianelli, told Radio Marte. "It's unlikely he will leave in January. The Pozzo family's [club owners] Watford have a great relationship with Napoli, but according to their business plan, it's hard to see them selling their prized assets in the winter transfer window.

"Last year, he was followed and wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United, but Watford did not even entertain talks. We're talking about a lad who is part of the Nigeria national team, but he has an EU passport."

Despite saying a transfer is unlikely, Bastianelli did add: "Anything can happen in football, so we'll see."

Napoli v Benfica: Preview

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri believes Benfica are one of the strongest sides in Europe.

The two teams meet on match day two of the Champions League in Naples on Wednesday night.

Sarri saw his players make a winning start against Dynamo Kiev but he thinks Napoli face a tougher test against the Portuguese giants.

"This match will be very difficult. Benfica are very strong, I've seen all their games and they control the game with no problem," said Sarri at his pre-match press conference.

Napoli fans boycott preseason friendly against Monaco

Napoli fans' indifference towards their team reached a new low on Sunday when only 5,000 turned up at the Stadio San Paolo to witness their 5-0 win over Monaco.

The Campania club are used to almost filling their stadium for their high-profile preseason friendlies, while the popularity of their games also means they are the only ones broadcast by Sky and Mediaset on pay-per-view, with the preseason games of all other clubs -- including Juventus -- invariably screened free.

However, following the controversial €90 million sale of Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus, that enthusiasm has ebbed to the point that the Stadio San Paolo looked almost deserted on Sunday.

Those who did turn up saw Manolo Gabbiadini score four goals with Allan supplying the other. They also witnessed the debuts of new signings Arkadiusz Milik and Piotr Zielinski, and the unveiling of the Azzurri's new away shirt for the upcoming season.

The club have reacted to fears the crowd figures may dwindle also once the Serie A season has started by granting all fans who purchased a ticket for their fixture with Nice last week a free ticket for the league clash with AC Milan at the end of August -- a game which would usually draw a capacity crowd without any further incentives.

Belgium winger Dries Mertens: Napoli should sign Thomas Meunier

Napoli winger Dries Mertens has called on his club to make a move for his compatriot Thomas Meunier this summer, saying he would be a "great signing" for the Serie A outfit.

Meunier, 24, is contracted to Club Brugge until 2020, but his performances for his country at Euro 2016 have attracted the interest of many of Europe's top clubs.

Mertens, who has also committed his future to the Azzurri, hopes Napoli will beat off the competition so he can continue playing with the right full-back at 

club level after the end of this summer's Euros.

"I'm not leaving Napoli," Mertens said at a news conference. "Maybe these European Championships would be a good opportunity for me to put myself in the shop window, but I don't want to leave the Azzurri anyway. I'm only playing well here to make my family proud of me.

"I hope that Thomas Meunier comes to Napoli. He's playing really well and he would be a great signing."

Napoli finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A last season, therefore qualifying for the Champions League group stage. By winning the Belgian league, Brugge also go directly into the group stage of the Champions League.

Gonzalo Higuain, FW, Napoli & Argentina: #CopaRank: No. 10

last summer's near miss at the Copa America in Chile, Gonzalo Higuain and Argentina are keen to take home this year's Copa America.

Welcome to #CopaRank, a weeklong look at the top 25 players we expect to see at the Copa America Centenario. Over 50 ESPN FC experts and writers from around the globe voted, and we're rolling out the results right up to opening day, U.S. vs. Colombia, on Friday.

Why is Gonzalo Higuain in the top 25?

Higuain is one of Europe's best goal scorers, full stop. He averaged more than a goal a game in Serie A this season, scoring 36 times in 35 appearances for Napoli. An elite finisher with as sharp an eye for goal as any in the world, Higuain is able to score in a variety of ways, putting him in a very small group that includes just a handful of the world's top players. When not scoring, Higuain is excellent at hold-up play, controlling possession and bringing teammates into the attack by laying the ball off. He can handle combination play and has a strong shot from distance.

What the experts say about Higuain:

"He's not only the best striker in the world but a man with genuine feelings. Gonzalo can be a bit sensitive, and it shows, but it's enough to touch the right chord. A champion of his ability sometimes just needs to feel close to those around him."-- Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri

"In the last 16-20 metres, Higuain is deadly -- a unique striker who knows how to come from every direction and sees the goal as well as anyone. He knows how to attack the front and the back post with the same quality; he makes ghastly figures of his markers; he's very strong athletically, intelligent in conversation with his teammates and then scores repeatedly." -- Former Juventus striker and current Italian football pundit Fabrizio Ravanelli

Career highlight:

While Higuain is burning up Serie A with his gaudy goal totals with Napoli, his most accomplished season came back in 2011-12 when he helped Real Madrid win La Liga -- the club's most recent domestic title. Higuain scored 22 goals that season in 18 appearances, 17 of them of the substitute variety

Higuain's 36 league goals was the second-best domestic total in Europe to Luis Suarez's 40.

What next for Higuain after the Copa America Centenario?

Higuain has already been linked to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, with the United rumors picking up extra steam thanks to Jose Mourinho's appointment at Old Trafford. Napoli wants to keep him, however, and could increase his wages dramatically in order to do so.

Gonzalo Higuain double moves Napoli back up to second in Serie A

Gonzalo Higuain was the star as Napoli remained in second place on Monday.

Gonzalo Higuain reached 32 goals for the season as Napoli held onto second place in the Serie A table by beating Atalanta 2-1 at the Stadio San Paolo.

The league's leading scorer notched either side of the break to prevent Roma from moving into the runners-up spot, with Raul Albiol putting through his own net to give the southerners the jitters at the death.

Roma's earlier victory at Genoa had lifted the capital club above Napoli and into second so Maurizio Sarri's men had to respond quickly and effectively.

After some probing by both sides the ball fell nicely for Marek Hamsik, who cut inside from the left to supply Higuain for his 31st goal in 32 matches.

Napoli struggled to make anything else stick in the first half and it was not until the 40th minute that they carved out another half chance, Jorginho setting up Lorenzo Insigne for an acrobatic effort that fizzed past a post.

When play resumed Napoli's Slovakian captain Hamsik danced through the middle of the park, ignoring the available Higuain, before shooting straight down Marco Sportiello's throat.

The hosts hit the crossbar in the 57th minute. Andrea Masiello's mistake in defence allowed Allan to waltz into a one-on-one with Sportiello but the Brazilian could only hit the frame of the goal.

Dries Mertens then nutmegged Rafael Toloi on his way into the Atalanta box, his finish just missing the mark, but in the 77th minute Napoli doubled up.

Higuain further extended his tally by turning Jose Callejon's cross beyond Sportiello to rubber-stamp the three points.

It was just as well the Argentinian had bagged a brace, as Albiol spoiled Napoli's clean sheet five minutes from time, the former Real Madrid defender accidentally turning Kalidou Koulibaly's attempted clearance over the line.

Gonzalo Higuain keeps Napoli on title track after defeat of Palermo

Gonzalo Higuain's penalty saw Napoli squeeze past Palermo 1-0 and maintain their pursuit of the Serie A title.

The Azzurri are three points behind reigning champions and current leaders Juventus with nine games remaining after former Real Madrid striker Higuain matched his career-best haul of 27 league goals in a season.

Walter Novellino's Palermo, meanwhile, are flirting with relegation as 18th-placed Frosinone are just one point behind them.

Napoli flew out of the traps and almost beat Stefano Sorrentino inside two minutes as Lorenzo Insigne latched on to Allan's through ball.

The chance to score was handed to the visitors when Sinisa Andjelkovic fouled Raul Albiol in the 22nd minute, with Higuain needing no encouragement to convert from the spot.

Palermo might have levelled just before half-time but swift interplay between Alberto Gilardino and Franco Vazquez came to nothing as Jose Reina stuck out a glove at just the right time.

Wary of succumbing to a second-half equaliser, Napoli got to work chasing a second goal when play resumed and Insigne might have found it from a one-on-one with Sorrentino shortly before the hour.

Palermo's seasoned keeper said no, however, and he was found standing tall again when Insigne tried to beat him with a swerving left-footed drive.

A more formidable foe, Higuain, came knocking in the 74th minute, but once more Sorrentino ensured the ball missed the target.

His stirring shift in between the sticks was complete when he repelled Dries Mertens following the Belgian's clever one-two with Higuain.

Lazio rejected Man Utd's €50m Felipe Anderson offer in August - director

Lazio rejected a €50 million offer from Manchester United for Felipe Anderson in August but have not received a new bid since, the Italian club's director of sport has confirmed.

On Thursday, Igli Tare said his Serie A side would "evaluate every offer" for Anderson, but speaking before Lazio's game at Fiorentina on Saturday, the director said United have yet to be in contact in the winter transfer window.

"So far we haven't received anything from Manchester United," Tare told 

Mediaset Premium. "He is going through a negative period of form and he knows that, we talked a great deal.

"He has to find his calm, he is a player who is now well-known and feared. He has what it takes to emerge from this negative moment.

Lazio have confirmed Felipe Anderson has been a target of Man United.

"We turned down a €50m offer from Manchester United on Aug. 27 and nothing has changed since then, because if he finds consistency, then he's worth much more.

"We also resisted bigger offers than that, but we have targets to achieve."

After scoring in Lazio's 3-1 win, Anderson would not rule out a January move -- to Manchester United or anywhere else.

"My future? I don't know if I'll stay in January, I'm focused only on my work because I don't live a good moment. I don't know what happens," he told Sky Sport Italia.

Last month, reports of United preparing a £45m (£33.85m) offer for Anderson surfaced.

Man United boss Louis van Gaal confirmed it is possible Manchester United could make signings in the January window.

"If I and the coaches feel that something can be done to improve the current squad then that is something we will look at if the opportunity does arise," he wrote in his programme notes ahead of the Sheffield United game in the FA Cup.

nguon: www.espnfc