It is no secret that Newcastle United are in the market for some of the biggest names across Europe and with the kind of money that they hope to achieve, some of these names would surely be seen at St James’ Park next season. However, it must also be admitted that the Magpies should get in a set of experienced players, considering that the marquee signings may shy away from the club at this stage.
In this regard, Dries Mertens would be an ideal man for the club with the Magpies already showing an interest in him. However, the latest report would not please them too much with Corriere dello Sport (as cited by Marca) now stating that the Belgian has been offered a deal by Inter Milan which is valued at more than €4 million per year.
What does it mean for the Tyneside club?
The preliminary goal for Newcastle United next season, considering their takeover goes through smoothly, would be a top-four slot and mounting the pressure on the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal for the same. Even the most optimistic supporters of the club would not think about putting their hands on the Premier League trophy just yet.
Considering this aspect, Dries Mertens is one of the best men for Newcastle United to oversee a smooth transition from a mid-table side to a title contender. 33-year-old Mertens has been in the Napoli ranks since 2013 and plying his trade under various accomplished managers such as Benítez, Sarri and Ancelotti; he has honed his skills to become one of the most dependable forwards in Europe.
His numbers are amazing, as he has scored 90 goals from 226 matches in Serie A. In a golden generation of the Belgium squad, the former PSV man appeared for his nation 90 times.
What could he bring to Newcastle United?
If the report is to be believed then, with their current finances, the Newcastle board may make a better offer to lure the player to England considering the need of talented and experienced men to begin their project. Mertens has all the experience in the world after leading the Napoli attack for a long time, regularly mounting challenges for the Serie A title and featuring in the Champions League.
Even if we admit that his advanced age has taken a toll on his pace and hard-working nature, the other attributes of the Belgian remain intact. His versatility is remarkable with him being able to play as a centre-forward, an attacking midfielder or as a lone striker. His positional sense and his ability to create space for himself and his teammates is also something that Newcastle can make use of. Most importantly, his leadership qualities would also be an asset to a club that are trying to bring in a new squad in their bid to be a European giant.
Overall, Newcastle should fight tooth and nail with the other contenders to acquire his signature and convince him to shift his base from Italy to England.
