Real Madrid have entered the race to sign Uruguayan international striker, Edinson Cavani, from Napoli.

Los Blancos have held preliminary talks with Cavani’s agent, and hope to beat English Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester City to the prolific striker’s signature.

Real continue to be linked to Liverpool’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, and it could be that the Bernabeu is home to an all-Uruguay strike-force next season.

Cavani has gone on record to say that he would jump at the chance to play under Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City, or Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

But neither Premier League team has yet shown a willingness to pay the striker’s €63 million release clause, to free him from his contract at Napoli, whereas Madrid are understood to have their cheque book at the ready.

Chelsea have apparently only made speculative offers to Napoli, hoping a player-exchange could lubricate their pursuit of Cavani, while City are yet to show their hand.

Meanwhile, the Blues continue to monitor their former player Nemanja Matic, who they sold to Benfica as part of the deal which brought David Luiz to Stamford Bridge.

The Serbian international has subsequently shone in the Portuguese, leading to speculation that Chelsea could seek to bring him back.

Matic is aware of Chelsea’s interest, "but, frankly, I want to stay another year in Lisbon," he said.

“Of course, someone like Jose Mourinho wanting me to go back to London would be an opportunity to prove that I can play in the Premier League, but I want to achieve more at Benfica, particularly in the big games."