Lazio will have to find another backup for Ciro Immobile in the summer, and they have shown interest in Dries Mertens. The Napoli mainstay will be out of contract at the end of the season. The Partenopei have an automatic option to extend his expiring deal. However, they wish to lower his wages considering his reduced role.
The Biancocelesti signed Jovane Cabral from Sporting CP in January, but he has played very little. Maurizio Sarri has preferred using a false-nine when the starter was unavailable. According to Tuttomercatoweb, Mertens would like to finish his career with Napoli, but he would welcome a reunion with the current Lazio coach if he could not.
The 34-year-old asked the Azzurri for a two-year contract with €3.5M wages, down from the current €4.5M. Napoli are mulling their counter-offer, as they are looking to keep their payroll in order. The Biancocelesti are unlikely to match his requests as well.
Mertens would be a serious option for Lazio only if Sarri stayed at the helm. The gaffer was instrumental in luring Pedro from Roma last summer. He met with the club’s Wednesday, but his future has not been fully clarified, Alfredo Pedullà informs.
The boss wants to see some changes in how the management operates and be more involved in the transfer market strategies. He will not pen an extension anytime soon. The key summit between the parties will occur down the line, and all options will be on the table. The veteran coach is under contract for another season.