According to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Napoli attacker Dries Mertens has performed a U-turn and agreed a new deal with the club amid links to the Premier League.
It’s claimed that Mertens has finally found an agreement with Napoli. An announcement on his new contract is expected in the next few days.
Owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has allegedly increased his offer, matching Inter Milan’s bid. Mertens allegedly decided to stay ‘immediately’ once that new offer came in, having previously looked set to leave.
He will now make €4million-a-year, which is around £67,000-a-week. Additionally, he will be given a signing bonus worth more than £2million.
Mertens will now stay put until 2022, extending his stay after 121 goals and 73 assists in 311 games for Napoli, following his 2013 move from PSV Eindhoven.
This news may be a blow to both Liverpool and Newcastle United. Tuttomercatoweb recently reported that Jurgen Klopp wanted to bring Mertens to Anfield on a free transfer this summer.
ESPN added that Newcastle’s potential new owners had made contact with Mertens about joining for free this summer, in what would be a huge coup for the Magpies.
Instead, the Belgian attacker is staying in Italy. He would have been a bargain on a free transfer, even at 33, but both Liverpool and Newcastle will have to look elsewhere.
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