Napoli manager Rafael Benitez is still
interested in bringing another striker to
the club, despite the capture of Gonzalo
Higuain.
Benitez has worked hard to bolster his
side since taking over at the Stadio San
Paolo in May from Walter Mazzarri, with
the likes of Raul Albiol, Jose Callejon
and Dries Mertens joining Higuain in
making the switch to the Serie A
runners-up.
Argentina international Higuain arrived at the club from Real Madrid in July, boosting
their forward line following the sale of Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain.
But Benitez says he is unlikely to be the last forward through the door.
"We still have money to buy another striker, we are looking for the level of Higuain,"
he told Cadena SER.
Benitez is delighted to have a player of Higuain's calibre in his squad, but he
admitted that he did not expect to be successful in his pursuit of the 25-year-old.
"For us this was a special situation," he added. "We didn't think there was a chance
to catch him because they talked about Arsenal. Someone like him, at his level, here
in Naples has the chance to become the most important player."
Benitez's squad strengthening has seen him linked with a host of players, including
Real Madrid duo of Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Arbeloa.
However, he has played down suggestions of a move for the pair, adding: "We are not
interested in in Fabio Coentrao or Alvaro Arbeloa."
Whatever squad he does settle on ahead of the start of the Serie A season, Benitez is
not expecting instant success.
"There is a lot of enthusiasm here at Napoli," he explained.
"We had the 'luck' of the money came from the sale of Cavani to improve the
structure of the club, the squad and the youth sector and we are working with this in
mind.
"Napoli was competing for the league title with 14 players (last year), the squad was
clearly short. Our goal is to improve, not only for this season but also for the future,
with players of 25-26 years.
"We do not have a specific objective - we want to do our best."
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