Everton make approach for Mertens

01/07/2015

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Everton have made preliminary inquiries about Napoli forward Dries Mertens according to a media sources from his native Belgium.

Citing his colleague Sven Claes following up on rumours in the Dutch and Belgian media yesterday, Het Laatste Nieuws' UK-based journalist Kristof Terreur says that while it's not known if the 28-year-old is Roberto Martinez's prime target this summer, he confirms that contact has been made.

The Belgian international, who can play behind the striker or wide on the left and featured in last summer's World Cup (often in place of Blues forward Kevin Mirallas), has three years left on his deal with Napoli whom he joined in 2013 in a €9m move.

He has 17 goals in 62 league appearances in Serie A but notched 37 in the same number of appearances for PSV Eindhoven over the preceding two seasons.

Inter Milan are also reportedly interested in Mertens but HLN report that, like Everton, they have yet to lodge an official bid.

Update On 6 July, a representative of Mertens, Massimiliano Capparoni, suggested that the Belgian was unlikely to leave Italy this summer.

“Mertens is a top player, and wanted by several clubs,” he said. “However, Napoli are not currently in talks with anyone, and I don’t think there will be any problems with him staying in Naples.”

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