"Massive statement" - Journalist reacts as Leeds United eye ambitious move for 246-goal icon

Leeds United can make a “massive statement signing” by luring Napoli striker Dries Mertens to Elland Road this summer in what would be an ambitious move, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Yorkshire club are said to be interested in the 35-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the month.

According to Voetbal Flitsen, three Premier League clubs are keen on Mertens, with Leeds being one of them.

The other two mentioned are Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, and the same report claims that it is the former who have the best chance of signing the Belgian this summer.

While Mertens is not getting any younger, he still proved to be a very useful forward in the 2021/22 season.

For Napoli, he played 37 games in all competitions and scored 13 goals, taking his total career tally to 246, which is extremely impressive. It is no surprise that the late Diego Maradona was such a big fan, hailing him for that goalscoring ability and his desire to run around.

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O’Rourke fears it will be a hard deal to do, but if Leeds manage to pull it off, he thinks they would end up making quite a statement.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: “If they could get somebody like him in, it’d be a massive statement signing from Leeds United. I think it’ll be a hard deal to do, but the opportunity to play in the Premier League is something that maybe appeals to Mertens at this stage of his career.”

If they can, then absolutely. As already mentioned, the Napoli man has a really good goalscoring record. He will be available on a free transfer, too, making him an even more attractive option.

Looking into his stats further, over the last year, he has ranked