According to Tasnim news agency, Dries Mertens, after nine seasons in Napoli and becoming the best scorer in the club’s history with 148 goals, left this summer with the expiration of his contract. The Belgian striker was ready to extend his contract with Napoli and even cut his salary, but the club’s managers finally decided to part ways with their best scorer.
The Italian newspaper “Ilmatino” published in Naples reported; Napoli have lost two of their main strikers, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne, this summer and therefore are looking for suitable replacements for these two players. According to this report, the managers of Napoli have considered Sassuolo striker Giacomo Raspadori as Mertens’ replacement, and Luciano Spalletti, the head coach of Naples, has been impressed by the performance of this Italian striker.
Il Mattino claimed that 22-year-old Raspadori is looking to play in the Champions League next season and that Napoli would be an ideal fit for him, but Sassuolo are reluctant to lose another young talent, Raspadori, following the departure of Gianluca Scamacca. . This Italian striker played in 38 games for Sassuolo last season and scored 10 goals and made six assists for his teammates.
Napoli are also interested in buying Giovanni Simeone from Hellas Verona, but before making an official offer to Hellas Verona for the Argentinian striker, Napoli must first sell Andrea Petagna and Adam Onas.