‘Actually mad’, ‘quality’: Some Newcastle fans react to links with player who Maradona loves

Add as preferred source on Google

A number of Newcastle United fans have taken to Twitter to discussing the reports linking the Magpies with Dries Mertens.

Newcastle are in the final stages of a takeover bid, with the club now very close to being bought off Mike Ashley, as was initially reported by talkSPORT last Wednesday.

The Magpies’ prospective new owners are expected to have major ambitions upon arriving at St. James’ Park and ESPN have claimed that the Napoli attacker is on their radar.

Mertens’ contract expires at the end of the season and there has been no sign of a renewal, so it’s looking increasingly likely that he could be at a new club next term.

Considering he has scored 121 goals in 309 appearances since moving to Italy in 2013 for a reported €9.5million (around £8.5million), the 5ft 6in frontman is likely to have plenty of suitors after his services.

Mertens even has the Diego Maradona seal of approval, the Argentine telling the Corriere dello Sport (quoted by Football Italia) after his Napoli goal record was surpassed by the Belgian: “Mertens was born to be a striker, but he didn’t know. All his goals couldn’t be scored by someone who isn’t a striker at heart.

“I’d like to do something so that Mertens doesn’t leave. If it’s right and sacrosanct for a professional to always look for a better salary, but it’s also true that in no other corner of the world would he feel loved, respected, pampered and important like he does in Naples.

“Therefore, dear President, don’t let him get away. He’s over 30 years old, I know, but he runs, plays and scores goals with the freshness and enthusiasm of a young lad.”

But what do Newcastle fans make of the Mertens speculation? Here is just some of the reaction on social media: