Chelsea and Manchester City are receiving encouragement in their pursuit of Napoli star Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Lavezzi will be available for £26m in the summer.

The Argentinean striker has impressed for Napoli this season both in Serie A and the Champions League, and has attracted the attention of a host of top European clubs.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis let slip details of Lavezzi's release fee when responding to rumours he could be on his way to Anzhi Makhachkala in the summer, telling La Stampa:

"The future of Lavezzi is clear - he has a buyout clause of €32million.

"If he wants to go to Russia in the wilderness to earn more, he can do it. I do not work for money but for something else."