Manchester clubs on alert as Mertens stalls

In form Napoli attacker Dries Mertens has reportedly stalled contract negotiations with the Serie A club, amid interest from Manchester United and Manchester City.

29 year old Mertens has scored twenty three goals for Napoli this season, resulting in Premier League clubs showing interest in bringing him to England. The Belgian still has a year left of his current contract, but Napoli have been keen to tie him down by offering a new deal. 

Mertens was happy to begin talks with his club, however reports from Italy today suggest that he has been alerted to the interest from the Manchester clubs, with the possibility of not agreeing to a new deal with the Italians until he has heard what the English clubs are willing to offer. 

Dries Mertens would be a good acquisition for either of the two interested teams, as at 29, he has experience to offer, having played in Belgium, Holland and Italy, whilst also representing Belgium on fifty five occasions. Right footed Mertens is comfortable playing in an attacking position, either on the left hand side, or in a more central role.