They may still be in the midsts of the closest Ligue title race in years, but Paris Saint-Germain look set to kick-off their summer recruitment drive in earnest with the capture of Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Reports in Italy claim the Qatari-owned club have agreed to pay the Argentine’s release clause with the Italian club, reported to be €32million.
Lavezzi, 27, enjoyed a stellar season with the Partenopei – scoring 11 goals in 41 games – as the club finished fourth in Serie A and reached the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
But having been pipped to the final Champions League spot by Udinese they are now facing up to the prospect of losing a host of their big-names, with PSG the first to pounce.
Lavezzi’s agent Ernesto Bronzetti confirmed the former San Lorenzo man is close to swapping the Stadio San Paolo for the Parc des Frances where he will form a potentially explosive partnership with fellow Argentine Javier Pastore.
Internazionale were thought to be leading the race to sign Lavezzi, but Bronzetti admits they were are unable to match the riches of offer from PSG.
“Il Pocho will go to Paris Saint-Germain,” Bronzetti told Radio Kiss Kiss. “The probability that he will go to France is high. This is not a feeling, I have some certain information. The French club are the only team who could meet his buy-out clause. A deal could be done as soon as this week.”
Meanwhile, reports claim that Napoli will turn to Genoa’s Rodrigo Palacio, who bagged 19 goals in 32 games to ensure the Rossoblu’s safety this season, should Lavezzi link-up with Carlo Ancelotti’s PSG.
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