River Plate starlet and new Argentina international Erik Lamela could be in line for a move to Italy in the summer transfer window, after Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that his club will be following him closely with a view to making a deal.

The 19-year-old number 10 has been in excellent form for River since becoming a first team regular midway through the 2010 Apertura, and is now one of the first names on the team-sheet for the Millo as they look to escape from relegation trouble with four games remaining. His form has also attracted many admirers, with Napoli the latest to admit an interest.

“Lamela interests us, that is now a reality. We are following him, although we recognise that it will not be easy to land him given the quality of clubs that have declared an interest,” De Laurentiis revealed in a press conference in Italy, referring to clubs such as Roma, Lazio and Milan, who have been strongly linked with ‘Coco’ in the past.

Ole subsequently reports that Napoli have already made formal contact with Lamela’s representatives, who have passed on the message to River president Daniel Passarella. The ‘Kaiser’, however, has shown a commitment in the past to not let his starlets go cheaply, despite the club’s crippling debts, and would ask for a fee upwards of €20 million to let Erik leave.

The player’s exploits have gained the attention of national boss Sergio Batista, who brought him on as a substitute in Wednesday’s Argentina-Paraguay clash to give the youngster his first full international cap. The Albiceleste secured a 4-2 win against their opponents, with both squads made up of locally-based players.