Napoli close in on Rodriguez signing from Real Madrid

Napoli are close to signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal, claims Gianluca Di Marzio.

Madrid have spent more than £200m on new signings this summer and there is no place in the squad for Rodriguez.

The Colombia international, who spent the last two years on loan at Bayern Munich, is now set to secure another reunion with Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian has worked with Rodriguez at Madrid and Bayern and is the driving force behind Napoli’s decision to sign the 27-year-old.

Talks between Napoli and Madrid are progressing well and the Serie A outfit will have an option to make his switch permanent for €30m (£26.7m) next summer.

Rodriguez struggled to nail down a regular starting berth during his two seasons at Bayern, featuring in just 45.3% of the available playing time in the Bundesliga.

Of players that started 10 Bundesliga matches in that time, however, Rodriguez required the fewest minutes per key pass (one every 24.1 minutes of playing time).