A couple of weeks ago, Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium put forward the hypothesis that Napoli’s Dries Mertens could only sign for some ‘smaller’ Premier League sides next summer due to his age.
The likes of Crystal Palace and West Ham were mentioned, while Newcastle, who are currently on course to return to the top tier under Rafa Benitez, were also on the list.
Signing a player of the Belgium international’s calibre, especially following his current season, would surely represent a coup for the Magpies, yet with Manchester United and Chelsea also reportedly after him, that seems difficult.
The Naples based newspaper state three club from England could put a spanner in Napoli’s efforts of renewing the 29-year-old forward, including Rafa Benitez’s side.
That Newcastle are still mentioned as a threat for a Serie A side getting used to yearly Champions League football says a lot of their reputation in world football despite spending last year in the Championship, as well as shows how fearful Europe is of the spending power of (potential) Premier League sides.
Mertens has recently changed agents, who reportedly immediately set up a meeting with Chelsea regarding a potential transfer, and it seems the new man in charge of the Belgian’s affairs is actively searching for a way out of Napoli.
The Italian club are keen to tie their star down, promising him a central role in Sarri’s plans, as well as a €40m release clause that would become active in 2018 and a wage increase.
That, however, might not be enough, and were a €40-45m offer to land on their desk this summer, they would be forced to consider it very seriously.
It seems unlikely that Newcastle, unless they are prepared to make some big statements in the summer, will go as far as spending such an amount on an ageing forward, but then again, stranger things have happened at St James’ Park in the past.
