Arsenal are interested in a move for Napoli forward Dries Mertens should he leave the Italian club this summer.
The Belgian’s contract at the Serie A side is due to expire in the summer and, at this moment in time, no deal has been agreed.
Gazzetta Dello Sport explain that the club had believed negotiations over a new contract had been concluded and the player was set to stay with the club.
However, after they met with Mertens’ representatives, the expected ‘signals’ from the player did not arrive, with him instead raising issues regarding fines and emergency pay cuts.
As such, the two parties now appear to be as far as away as ever and Mertens’ agents, Stirr Associates, are ‘evaluating various possibilities’ for his future.
Several clubs are all ‘on the trail’ according to the newspaper, with Arsenal named explicitly as one of them.
Gazzetta don’t indicate whether the Gunners have been in touch with the player or how strong their interest is, just that it is there.
Any move is likely to depend heavily on the futures of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette though.
Both players have been linked with moves away from Arsenal this summer, and if one, or both of them depart, perhaps Mikel Arteta views Mertens as an ideal, low-cost but experienced option to fill the void.
