Napoli looking to trump Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea for Benfica's Nemanja Matic

NAPOLI have stepped up their interest in Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea target Nemanja Matic despite not being able to agree a fee with Benfica.

Nemanja Matic is highly sought-after [GETTY]

The Premier League trio have all been linked with a move for the 25-year-old who has made quite a name for himself in Portugal since leaving Chelsea in 2011.
However, Rafa Benitez's Napoli have been the most proactive in their pursuit of Matic and had launched negotiations with the Eagles.

Reports in Italy suggest that Napoli were willing to pay up to £17m to sign Matic but that has not been met with enthusiasm from Benfica.

Indeed, Benfica accept that no club is likely to meet Matic's £40m release clause, but they expect any offers to at least approach that figure.

Rafa Benitez wants Nemanja Matic in Naples [GETTY]

Napoli have fallen well short of Nemanja Matic's £40m release clause

However, with talks at risk of reaching an impasse Napoli are urgently investigating other options and have offered Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas, currently on loan at Gremio, in part exchange.

It now remains to be seen whether Benfica's valuation of Vargas gets Napoli any closer to the £40m figure and whether any of Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea are prepared to counter with an appealing offer of their own to get their man in January.\

Matic had a spell on the books at Chelsea but left Stamford Bridge for the Estadio da Luz as part of the deal that brought David Luiz to London two years ago.

Eduardo Vargas could be on his way to Lisbon [GETTY]