Newcastle could make a move for Napoli forward Dries Mertens in the summer, according to Nieuwsblad.de.
The Belgian publication reports that as Magpies boss Rafa Benitez has previously managed the 29 year old at Napoli, he may well be able to persuade the player to make the switch to Tyneside if Newcastle are promoted to the Premier League.
It is also suggested in the report that West Ham United and Crystal Palace may also be potential destinations for the Belgian international, in addition to clubs in China, Italy and Spain.
Ostensibly a winger, Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has opted to play him in a more central position this campaign after striker Arkadiusz Milik suffered a long term injury.
Mertens has subsequently scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for Napoli this season, but it seems that the Serie A club’s president Aurelio Di Laurentiis is reluctant to give Mertens a bumper pay deal with the player pushing 30.
His current contract expires in 2018, and his performances for Napoli this season have meant the Belgian star is seeking a sizeable pay rise to sign a contract extension. If he can’t agree a new deal, a move to England is a possibility.
