Vincenzo Pisacane, the agent of former Chelsea target Lorenzo Insigne, will have likely perked the interest of Marina Granovskaia ahead of the January transfer window following his latest admission.
The 30-year-old's agent has detailed the current status of his client's 'surprising' contract negotiations at Napoli in talks to extend his stay at the Italian club.
Pisacane revealed that club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has offered Napoli's captain a fifty per cent pay cut, seemingly opening the door for Chelsea to pounce and reignite their interest once more.
Insigne's agent added how talks between either party are ongoing despite Napoli's initial offer surprising him.
"I must clarify that the contract offer comes with a 50% pay cut. I am an agent and I must defend the captain at any time," Pisacane said, speaking to Italian outlet Il Roma.
“Usually, you offer more money when you want to extend a contract. Lorenzo was surprised [by Napoli offer]. There is mutual respect with Aurelio, but he knows that the proposal must be increased and not cut."
Pisacane's damning public announcement, regarding the brewing contract saga that Insigne has become subject to, could be a tactful ploy to add his client to the radars of potential suitors like Chelsea who have a history of interest in the Italian.
Insigne, who first emerged on the Blues' radar in 2018, is currently on a €5 million-a-year (£4.3m) deal at Napoli and sees his contract at the Italian side expire at the end of the season meaning that he'll become eligible to engage in pre-contractual talks in January.
With the Italy international's agent seemingly notifying clubs of his client's availability ahead of the winter window, it hands Chelsea a major boost in their pursuit, should they be inclined to reignite interest.
Chelsea first followed in Insigne in 2018 in light of Maurizio Sarri's appointment at the helm of Stamford Bridge but the Blues faced competition from Liverpool, according to Italian outlet Rai Sport (via Metro).
A deal failed to materialise but rumours linking the Italian to a Chelsea move resurfaced just a few months later as it soon became apparent that Eden Hazard was edging closer to his Real Madrid switch.
Thomas Tuchel's side then reignited interest in the 30-year-old following Insigne's dazzling displays at Euro 2020, according to journalist Francesco Modugno.
While the acquisition of Napoli's captain - who is valued at £43.2 million by Transfermarkt - could prove to be costly in terms of the contract, as a free transfer this deal could be too good to let go of.
At 30-years-old Insigne would be giving Tuchel his prime output and the Italian would be an exciting addition to the operation of Chelsea's front-three.
As a goal-scorer and creator, often lurking in the inside half-spaces, Insigne is a similar profile of player to Hazard adding an interesting dynamic to the Blues' attack - he may just be Tuchel's key to unlocking Romelu Lukaku too.
Would you like to see Insigne at Chelsea next summer? Follow our Carefree Chelsea trends writer Jake on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
