Lucas Leiva
Lucas Leiva is one of three players on Rafa Benitez's wishlist for January.

Mario Suarez, Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva are all on Rafa Benitez's wishlist for the winter transfer window as the former Liverpool boss looks to build a Napoli side capable of challenging for the Scudetto.

Portoguese paper O Bola is claiming that the three players could be seriously pursued by Napoli when January hits with Suarez topping the manager's list at present, while his admiration of both Lucas and Mascherano from his time at Liverpool clearly hasn't changed.

Suarez made the move from Mallorca back to his boyhood club Atletico Madrid in 2010 and the 26 year old has established himself as an important part of the side's line-up as they currently sit in second place in the La Liga table.

But with a €15m price tag and with Napoli spending big this summer, the side may turn to Mascherano or Lucas as alternative targets in order to build a more defensively sound midfield.

Lucas insisted this week that he couldn't see himself playing for anyone apart from Liverpool with the Brazil international having been at the club for six years now.

But he will be aware of the success that Benitez brought to the Merseyside club and should the 26 year old decide that his current club can't offer major trophies in the foreseeable future then he might be tempted to move to Napoli for the right offer.

In Mascherano's case, Liverpool have been touted as a possible future destination for the former Red as he ponders an exit from Barcelona.

The 29 year old worked with Benitez for a short time at the club before heading to the Catalan giants in 2010 but has admitted that the fight for a starting spot with the club is proving to be particularly frustrating.