Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Dries Mertens this summer as Napoli look to remove his wage bill from their books.

It’s been just under a year since Arsenal were last linked with a move for Dries Mertens but with another transfer window approaching, here we are again.

Napoli are said to want to get rid of the 33-year-old, who wants to stay at the club. As a result, Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be interested in making a move for the forward.

It does look like Arsenal will be making a number of changes up front this summer with Alexandre Lacazette likely to leave and Folarin Balogun set to sign a new deal. With Gabriel Martinelli pushing for a sustained run in the side and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still at the club, a move for Mertens now would seem like a strange one given both his age and Arsenal’s poor financial situation.

Arsenal will need to be clever in this upcoming transfer window and there are positions they need to strengthen with more urgency than that of centreforward.

Mertens contract with Napoli expires next summer, although the Italians have an option to sign him for another year, should they desire.

If I had to guess, I’d be more inclined to think he will end up at Tottenham than Arsenal, if he does end up in England at all.