Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed the club have discussed signing Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgium International is wanted by Napoli's rivals Inter Milan and Juventus.
De Laurentis also denied his club had announced their interest in order to drive up United's valuation of the Belgium international.
"You know why there are rumours about him? Because I am good friends with his agent, Federico Pastorello, who I often wake up at dawn for a chat," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"I asked him: 'Do you think Lukaku would suit Napoli? Is he going to Juventus or not?' We spoke in those terms, but then we know it's in the interest of agents to make it seem as if we made an offer, as that raises the price tag for someone else.
"This is why I'd prefer it if the transfer market opened the day after the season ended and closed at the end of July."
