Napoli met with Sassuolo today to confirm their status as favourites ahead of Juventus for Giacomo Raspadori, but are still a long way off the €40m asking price.
The striker is under contract until June 2024 and has no intention of penning a new deal with his hometown club, where he spent his entire career so far.
He has ambitions for Champions League football and showed a preference for Napoli, so today was a crucial meeting between the club chiefs.
According to Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia, the encounter saw Napoli make an initial offer worth €30m, whereas Sassuolo set the price-tag at €40m.
Juventus are also in the running for the Italy international and negotiations continue.
Sassuolo chiefs Giovanni Carnevali and Giovanni Rossi were spotted at the Napoli training retreat for the meeting with President Aurelio De Laurentiis and director of sport Cristiano Giuntoli.
The Neroverdi feel Raspadori is worth every bit as much as Gianluca Scamacca, who was sold to West Ham United last month for €36m plus €6m in add-ons and a 10 per cent cut of the future transfer fee.