Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa closing in on Napoli move

Mexico international Guillermo Ochoa's path to joining Napoli appears to be clearing, club president Aurelio de Laurentiis has said.

De Laurentiis admitted his club's interest in Ochoa on Tuesday while discussing the dilemma of each Serie A club only being allowed three non-European Union players. The rule threatens to squash deals to bring Ochoa in from Standard Liege and full-back Santiago Arias from PSV Eindhoven.

But the Italian club appear to have set their sights on France-born Bordeaux full-back Youssouf Sabaly, who has reportedly been given permission to travel to Italy to seal the switch. If Sabaly does eventually sign in place of Arias, the final non-EU spot could be taken by Ochoa.

"We have the problem of Non-EU [players]," De Laurentiis explained on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. "If we get Ochoa, we need to forget about signing Arias and pursue Sabaly, who has the advantage of being able to play on the right and left."

Mexican outlet Record reported on Thursday that Standard Liege had received a formal offer from Napoli of between "€3-4 million."

Napoli are on the look-out for a new goalkeeper after Pepe Reina left after the end of last season and new 21-year-old signing Alex Meret fractured his arm just days after he joined the club earlier this month.

Ochoa would be competing with Meret and Greece international Orestis Karnezis, who also signed for Napoli in early July.

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