Napoli chasing Higuain and Damiao, president says

MADRID (Reuters) - Napoli are in talks to buy Real Madrid's Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain and Internacional's Brazil striker Leandro Damiao and are close to a deal for Real's Spain defender Raul Albiol, president Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Wednesday.

Argentina's Higuain reacts after being expelled by referee Escalante of Venezuela during their 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Colombia in Buenos Aires

The Serie A club are flush with cash after agreeing the sale of Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani to Paris St Germain for a reported fee of 64 million euros ($84.1 million) on Tuesday and are looking to strengthen their squad for their domestic and Champions League campaigns.

Asked in a Twitter chat with fans whether Napoli were negotiating to buy Higuain and Damiao, De Laurentiis said: "It's true."

"Raul Albiol is undergoing medical tests. We hope he passes," he added.

Napoli last week agreed to sign versatile Spanish forward Jose Callejon from Real having already secured the services of Belgium winger Dries Mertens.

The pair have joined up with Spaniard Rafa Benitez, who was appointed Napoli coach at the end of May.

The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager replaced Walter Mazzarri, who quit after the team finished second behind Juventus last season to qualify for Europe's elite club competition.

($1 = 0.7612 euros)

(Reporting by Iain Rogers; Editing by John O'Brien)