Napoli director will ‘evaluate’ Mainoo opportunity in January

Napoli director of sport Giovanni Manna admits they will ‘make the right evaluations’ over Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in January.

It kicks off at the Estadio da Luz at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Juventus-Pafos on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei are in the thick of an injury crisis that has been particularly focused on the midfielders.

They go into tonight’s Champions League clash with Benfica missing Stanislav Lobotka, Billy Gilmour, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Miguel Gutierrez and Romelu Lukaku.

Considering the lack of alternatives, Napoli have been linked with a possible January swoop for Manchester United talent Mainoo.

“He is a player who has been linked to Napoli since August, also for his age, his potential, and the transfer opportunity,” noted Manna on Sky Sport Italia.

“This team is doing well, it is consolidated. We have some important absences right now, but sooner or later the lads will return, strong and determined.

“We have to make the right evaluations, so we’ll see how things progress along the way.”

Meanwhile, they play against Benfica with the same starting XI that beat Juventus in Serie A at the weekend.

“It is a tough game against a complicated opponent in an intense atmosphere. We’ve got limited options in midfield, but that is not an alibi,” insisted Manna.

“We’ve got to congratulate the lads and the coach, as they managed to come together during a difficult moment. We are proud of them, just as we were before.”