Newcastle are interested in Dries Mertens.
Dries Mertens
Newcastle United are interested in signing Dries Mertens from Napoli, Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad reported.
They are not the only club interested in the 29-year-old, but the Toon do hold a big advantage over their competitors, Rafa Benitez.
Benitez was in charge at Napoli when he convinced Mertens to sign from PSV Eindhoven back in 2013.
Mertens was quoted at the time by Napoli Today stating: “Here I was wanted by Benitez and this gives me a lot of confidence.”
Mertens was Benitez’s first signing at Napoli, and the Italian side are still reaping the dividends.
The Belgian winger has scored a phenomenal 24 goals this season, 19 coming in Serie A alone and a further five in the Champions League.
Mertens, 29, is looking for a new challenge and Newcastle may face a tough ask to secure the signature of a player performing at such an elite level, but Benitez gives them a chance.
Benitez told Goal in 2014 he saw signs of Mertens developing into an all round player, commenting: “I know Dries very well, I know perfectly what he can do here in Italy, he is learning to perform proficiently in his mission in the defensive phase.
“He is an exemplary professional who still can improve and give us even more of the many things that he is already giving us.”
If Benitez can persuade him to join Newcastle United then it might just be the best deal of the summer.
Dries Mertens
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