Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in activating Dries Mertens’ €28m release clause, encouraging Napoli to offer him a new deal to remove the option.

Mertens has a contract with Napoli until 2020, but Calciomercato write that his current deal has this €28m release clause for all clubs outside of Italy. With 21 goals and 12 assists in 46 matches this season, the Serie A side are worried the two Premier League sides might come in for him.

As a result, they’re in negotiations with the player over a new deal without the clause.

In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t worry too much about interest from Arsenal. Mertens is 30 (31 this week), older than all of the club’s current striking options.

Alexandre Lacazette has seven goals in his last seven games, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has nine goal contributions in 10 league matches and even Danny Welbeck is popping up with a goal or two.

Arsenal aren’t going to sign someone older than all of them to play back up. At least not someone costing them around £25m.

Maybe Manchester United would take a possible move more seriously. Anthony Martial’s contract is running down and Zlatan Ibrahimovic already left for the MLS. Perhaps Mertens could become Romelu Lukaku’s new strike partner. We’ll see.