Azzurri: next stop UEFA Cup

SSC Napoli in the UEFA Cup in season 2009/10? Okay, so it's ambitious. But it must surely be the target.

And for a club with a recent history as battle-ridden as Napoli's, that's a mighty impressive spot to be in.

Truth be told, there's not much to say about the end of the Serie A campaign for the Azzuri that hasn't been said in this superb post from our friends over at The Offside's Napoli Calcio Blog. Fortunato's in-depth analysis of the squad shows that some players really shone last season.

Paolo Cannavaro is described as a 'rock' at the back, with Maurizio Domizzi holding similar sway but weighing in with a few goals too. There's no cult hero quite like a defender who knows how to take a penalty - unlike John Terry (yes, I'm still laughing).

Zeke Lavezzi is, quite simply, brilliant. He's shown the skill, awareness and finishing we'd expect of an Argentine striker, and he's one of those players who gets the fans off their seats in anticipation of what he's going to conjure up. I'm hoping for big things from him next season. If Napoli can bring European football to the San Paolo, Lavezzi will be key.

But it's the Azzurri midfield where there's a pair of absolute gems to be found. Walter Gargano has stated his case for a berth in the centre of midfield for years to come with a great contribution to the season. He gives his all in every game (sometimes too much, see Parma farce), and if he remains settled in Naples we could have one of the best players of his kind in Italy on our hands.

Marek Hamsik, in contrast to Gargano, is spectacular in the extreme. The dude even looks striking, with his ever-so-slightly concerning spikey 'do'. Hamsik has the world at his feet - and I'm aware of what a huge claim that is. He knows how to score a goal, occasionally a breathtaking one. He can pass, beat his man, and his balance is astonishing. I'm no poet, but I think the only word which adequately describes Hamsik's style of play is 'elegant'. Well, elegant or...Nedvedish. But I bet he hates hearing that.

And so the attention turns to the summer transfer market, and rumours have been rife for weeks now. There's a few exits which appear to be assumed by Napoli fans currently, while others might well be on their way. Domizzi could be on his bike, Mirko Savini, Gennaro Iezzo and Sam Dalla Bona almost definitely will be. Whether the likes of Capparella and Calaio will follow them out of the door remains to be seen.

Of course, a good number of the possible departures will depend on which players Eddy Reja can tempt to the San Paolo in the next few months.

There's a few mouth-watering signings perched tantalisingly on the horizon. Udinese striker Toto Di Natale could be on his way to his hometown club despite interest from Roma, and a signing like that would really set the benchmark.

After a fantastic season under Laurent Blanc at Bordeaux, Argentine striker Fernando Cavenaghi has been linked with Napoli on several occasions in weeks gone by. His scoring record is incredible in Le Championnat this season, so I'd even forgive him being ex-R*ver if he joins the Azzurri over the summer.

A couple of spicy moves have been touted on the left hand side. Napoli Calcio Blog suggests a swoop for Marek Cech, Porto's left back, could be on the cards with a little help in the form of a good word in both directions from fellow Slovakian Hamsik. Catania's Peruvian Juan Manuel Vargas (pictured) is a player I've seen Napoli linked with many a time recently, and he tore the Azzurri apart in Walter Zenga's first game at the Angelo Massimino.

Who do I want at Napoli? Well, Di Natale would be the obvious one, but Cavenaghi looks like a smart buy too. Personally I'd be delighted if Vargas made the move to Naples, so fingers crossed for that.

Forza Napoli!