Napoli failed with a bid for Sunderland captain

Italian giants Napoli failed with a bid for Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole. The midfielder was heavily linked with a move away from the Stadium of light with reports emerging that a fee of 5 million pounds had been agreed with Stoke City.

Reports suggest that the deal fell through because the 25 year old did not want to join Napoli.



The Partenopei have been in the market for a midfielder having missed out on Radja Nainggolan who instead decided to join Serie A rivals AS Roma.



Napoli coach Rafa Benitez is a big admirer of the player and tried to sign the former Wigan midfielder while he was in charge of Liverpool.



If Cattermole had moved away from Sunderland he would have missed the Capital One Cup final in which Sunderland take on Manchester City.