Competition hotting up for Napoli ace

Juventus have joined Manchester City and Chelsea in the race for highly-rated Napoli forward Edinson Cavani.

The Serie A champions are reportedly ready to muscle in on City's bid to bring the Uruguayan to Etihad Stadium according to Italian newspaper Tuttosport. Roberto Mancini would be bitterly disappointed to miss out on a player who he has been tracking for some time, but the chance to stay in Italy may appeal to him. Juventus do have cash to splash, having clinched the title without being particularly prolific last season, while Chelsea have identified Cavani as a potential replacement for Didier Drogba. Tuttosport understand Juve have set aside a £30m budget for a new striker after drawing too many games for their liking, and there is the possibility of offer players in part-exchange as well in order to get their man. City's own attacker Carlos Tevez has also been linked as an alternative target along with Arsenal hotshot Robin Van Persie and Luis Suarez of Liverpool. Napoli are desperate however to keep hold of Cavani, particularly with the sale of fellow forward Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG now a virtual formality.