Sarri backed to sign Mauro Icardi

Chelsea have been backed to sign Mauro Icardi by Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis.

The Blues have been the clear favourites to land the Argentinian hitman in recent months after his impressive performances for Inter Milan.

But Icardi continues to attract interest from other European giants, most notably Real Madrid.

Chelsea are likely to be on the look out for a new striker in January.

And De Laurentiis, who infamously fell out with Maurizio Sarri in the summer, has claimed Icardi could become like Cristiano Ronaldo under the guidance of the former Napoli manager.

“I offered £55-60m, I do not remember,” De Laurentiis told reporters.

“I met his wife, very nice.

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“We spent an afternoon together, we negotiated a potential contract.

“Icardi is a champion, he could become a new Ronaldo, in the hands of Sarri he could make 40 goals.”

Sarri, however, appeared to rule out any January arrivals at Stamford Bridge this season.

“I didn’t ask anything about it to my club at the moment because at the moment I think we can stay with these players and be competitive,” he said.

“Maybe not for the top but we have to try to arrive close to the top.

“I have to think I only have to help these players to improve. It is too easy to go into the market for every problem.