Napoli remain optimistic that they will be able to sign Dries Mertens to a new contract just shortly according to a report from Italian news outlet FCInterNews.it.

The Belgian attacker’s current deal with the Stadio San Paolo club is due to expire at the end of the current campaign and a contract extension has been tabled.

Napoli are willing to give Mertens a new two year deal with an annual salary of €4 million plus bonuses as well as a €2 million signing on fee.

This offer is not exactly what Mertens is after though with it understood he wants €6 million per year for what will probably be the last big contract of his playing career.

Inter have also tabled an offer to Mertens due to his expiring contract status which consists of a €5 million annual salary plus bonuses which take it up to around €6 million a year.

Inter chief executive Giuseppe ‘Beppe’ Marotta is refusing to pull the offer and although Napoli are currently ahead, the lure of joining a team more ready to win trophies could swing things in Inter’s favour when Mertens eventually makes a decision.