Liverpool and Chelsea boost with Faouzi Ghoulam set to snub new Napoli deal
CHELSEA and Liverpool target Faouzi Ghoulam is set to walk away from Napoli on a free.
Juventus and Prem duo are in the hunt to land the Algerian left-back.
Ghoulam appears no closer to signing a new contract at the Stadio San Paolo.
And he is poised for a move away when his current deal ends next summer, if not in January.
The agent of Mario Rui has shed some light on Ghoulam's situation.
Portuguese left-back Rui is on loan from Roma and is expected to step in when Ghoulam leaves.
His representative Mario Giuffredi said: "I'm sure that as soon as he's ready Mario Rui will demonstrate his worth even if, it has to be said, Ghoulam is irreplaceable right now.
"I don't think Ghoulam will renew with Napoli and it's enough to think that in four months he'll be able to sign for whoever he wants for nothing.
"He could earn €5m and if I were his agent I'd do that, and I don't think the others are stupid.
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"I don't believe these stories that Ghoulam wants to renew, if he wanted to renew he'd already have done it.
"Besides, with the way he's playing Napoli can't afford to put him in the stands. After August 31, it's the player who has the handle of the knife."
Both Antonio Conte's Blues and Jurgen Klopp's Reds had been linked with the full-back this summer.
However, the 35-cap Algeria international - who also earned two caps for France's Under-21 side - stayed in Italy.
Yet Liverpool and Chelsea could be tempted to splash the cash in a cut-price deal this winter in a bid to boost their back-lines.
Both clubs are set to be stretched this season, as they compete on four fronts.
Ghoulam has been at Napoli since 2013, when he joined after four seasons at French side Saint-Etienne.
In his four seasons in Italy, the Algerian has racked up an impressive 100 Serie A appearances, scoring twice.
He was also a key figure in helping lead Napoli to third in the league last season and also the last-16 of the Champions League, where they were beaten by eventual champions Real Madrid.