The transfer rumours surrounding Dries Mertens have been odd recently. It makes sense the 30 year old is receiving attention, he’s got 31 goals and 10 assists, and his contract ends in June 2018, but the links have seemed forced.
In March, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported that, because of Mertens’ age, he’d have to adjust his aims accordingly should a Premier League move be his fancy. It was explained that Mertens wouldn’t be wanted by the biggest clubs, and would therefore have to look at options like Newcastle United, West Ham, and Crystal Palace.
But in Italy, things were reported differently, with Manchester United and Chelsea said to be interested, and Everton now brought into the picture. Ronald Koeman’s club are the latest to be dragged in, with claims in Italy that Everton would have to pay €50m, which is almost certainly wide of the mark.
In Belgium, Het Nieuwsblad, the same newspaper which told Mertens to look lower down the table, have grasped the Everton interest, and are confident there’ll be something in it.
Ronald Koeman will know all about Mertens, explain Net Nieuwsblad, because of the 
player’s time in the Netherlands, and Erwin Koeman worked with him at Utrecht.
Therefore, that puts Everton in a good place to push ahead of Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
The only problem is, despite a move to England making some sense, it still all feels like speculation.
