NAPOLI are reportedly lining up a move for West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola.

The Italian club sacked coach Roberto Donadoni after defeat to Roma on Sunday left them languishing in 15th in Serie A. And while they have appointed Walter Mazzarri as his replacement, it is understood that owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is keen to bring in Zola next summer, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Zola is popular amongst the Italian club's fans, as he won the Serie A title there during his first season as a player alongside Diego Maradona, while he also won the Italian Super Cup in his second year.

The Telegraph also claims that Napoli have put the wheels in motion to lure Hammers technical director Gianluca Nani and chief executive Scott Duxbury to the Stadio Sao Paolo, after being impressed by the project the trio have put in place at Upton Park.

A new business model to help the club become self-financing has been put in place, whereby players are brought through the club's famous academy and older players can be sold on in order to combat the financial problems that plague the club's owners, Icelandic bank Straumur.

Nani is reported to have been approached by Napoli last week, and enquiries were allegedly made about bringing Duxbury and Zola with him.

Straumur are actively looking for a buyer for the club, with former Birmingham City chairman David Sullivan reported to be interested in a £50million deal, which would also see him take on the club's estimated debts of £45million.

It is thought the owners are holding out for a figure in excess of £100million, however.