Emanuele Giaccherini is happy at Sunderland but flattered by talk of interest from Napoli, his agent has said.
Italy international winger Giaccherini, 29, has been linked with a return to Serie A, with Napoli reported to be keen to bring him to the club in the next transfer window after losing Lorenzo Insigne to a knee injury for six months.
"I think Insigne is much more of a striker than Giaccherini is," Giaccherini's agent, Furio Valcareggi, told Italian radio station Crc.
"I am good friends with [Napoli sporting director Riccardo] Bigon, but I have not spoken to him regarding Giaccherini.
"It could be that he [Giaccherini] has been included in a shortlist of possible replacements for Insigne, but I'm not aware of it.
"Having said this, he is very happy at Sunderland although we are flattered by the Napoli link. The idea that the club could be interested in Giaccherini certainly excites me."
Napoli are reportedly looking to acquire a player on a temporary basis -- something that would not suit Giaccherini.
"Giaccherini has two years left in his contract with Sunderland." Valcareggi added. "A loan deal would be more complicated because he earns a very good salary at Sunderland.
"To earn more than two million euros in Serie A is not easy. "
Giaccherini moved to the Stadium of Light from Juventus in summer 2013 and scored four goals in 24 Premier League appearances for the Black Cats last season.