Chelsea 'agree' £49.3 million deal for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani to see off Manchester City challenge

Manchester City and Chelsea have both been linked with the Uruguay striker, although earlier this month Cavani's father said his son would prefer a move to Real Madrid.

However, Napoli radio station Radio Marte announced: "We have received news in the office from a very reliable source that Napoli have sealed a deal with Chelsea for Cavani's sale.

"(Manager) Rafa Benitez also gave the all-clear, but before making the move official Napoli want to secure the striker who will replace Il Matador.

"(Napoli president) Aurelio De Laurentiis' club will pick up around €58 million (£49.3 million), a slight discount on the buy-out clause, which is the same situation as Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG last year.

"The player will earn €8.5 million (£7.2 million) per season plus image rights."

Cavani was the top goalscorer in Serie A last season and the 26-year-old says he wants to hold face-to-face talks with De Laurentiis after the Napoli president spoke of a quick resolution to any transfer.

Speaking to Italian radio station Radio Rai, De Laurentiis said: “I don’t think Cavani will leave on August 10. I’m confident in him because I consider him a real man. He won’t make a joke of me.

“Should Cavani want to leave, he will decide it after a long period of reflection. We will know everything by July 20. If not, I'll smack him!"

(Edited by Ben Bloom)

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German striker Andre Schurrle becomes Jose Mourinho's first signing in his second stint as Chelsea manager

The 22-year-old, who can play either as a creative wide player or a central striker, will take the No 14 shirt for Jose Mourinho's club.

Schurrle, the Portuguese's first signing in his second spell as the Stamford Bridge manager, said: "I am so happy now I have signed and it is an honour for me to play for this club, with this team and for these great fans. I am really looking forward to it."

Signing on: the forward has a five-year contract with the Blues (Chelsea FC)

It was announced on June 13 that Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen had reached an agreement for his transfer and Schurrle's switch to Stamford Bridge was confirmed after paperwork was completed.

He has netted seven goals in 24 appearances for Germany since making his debut in November 2010 while at Mainz, whom he joined from Ludwigshafener in 2009.

He signed for Leverkusen at the end of the 2010/11 season and in his first campaign he scored nine times in 40 appearances and last term he managed 14 in 43 to earn his move to Stamford Bridge.

(Edited by Oliver Pickup)

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