Man Utd in talks with Serie A forward?

Manchester United are prepared to offer a double your money contract to Dries Mertens as they seek to lure him from Napoli during the summer transfer window.

The Belgian international has evolved into one of Europe's deadliest attackers ever since his switch to the centre-forward position - after a long-term injury to summer recruit Arek Milik.

Mertens has found the net 25 times for Napoli in the ongoing campaign, but despite this, club president Aurelio di Laurentiis is reluctant to match his wage demands.

Di Laurentiis is currently holding out for a £2.5-a-year package, and this is something the player is not impressed about following his promise during the season.

According to Italian outlet La Repubblica, the Red Devils had held secret talks with Mertens earlier in the month, and they are now willing to table a £4m annual sum in order to prise him away from Naples.

The 29-year-old is currently approaching the final year of his Napoli contract, and the Serie A club could accept a fee of around £26m for his signature in the summer.

Mertens will be celebrating his 30th birthday in May this year, but United are unperturbed over this situation with Zlatan Ibrahimovic having distanced critics with his 26-goal season at the age of 35.