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Evaluating potential Newcastle target Dries Mertens

By Carson A Merk

NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli celebrates his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo on February 25, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli celebrates his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo on February 25, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Newcastle United will have some exciting targets if the takeover goes through and one of the rumored players is Dries Mertens.

If the rumored takeover comes to fruition for Newcastle United. there will be players on the club’s radar that have never seemed attainable. In the past couple of days, there were rumored contacts made in regards to Emmanuel Dennis of Club Brugge and Napoli’s Dries Mertens. We will break down both players, but first up is Mertens.

The 32-year-old forward has played for Napoli since 2013 when he departed PSV. He’s played more than 300 matches for the Italian club. Mertens has tallied 121 goals and 73 assists in his time with Gli Azzurri. His best season came in 2016-17 when he scored 33 goals and notched 12 assists across Serie A and Champions League action.

On the international stage, he represents Belgium. Mertens has played in nearly 100 matches for his country and has scored 18 goals to go with 27 assists. He scored once in each of the last two World Cups.

Mertens isn’t a “hold-up play, traditional” number nine. He uses his pace to get in behind, is a clinical finisher, and can also feature wide on the left. He’s a skillful dribbler and his scoring ability and unselfishness make him an ideal forward for the Magpies.

His numbers in Serie A were down a bit before the season was put on hold with only six goals and five assists. But, he was lighting up the Champions League, scoring five times in the group stage and converting the lone goal in a Round of 16 match 1-1 draw vs. Barcelona.

light. Related Story. A message to other EPL fans regarding a Newcastle takeover

Newcastle United won’t be the only club potentially pursuing Mertens this offseason. He’s been linked with Chelsea, Inter, and some of the other big clubs. His contract comes to an end after the season and the momentum seems to indicate he will be leaving Naples.