Manchester United have been given hope in their pursuit of Napoli forward, Dries Mertens after the club president revealed the player has a release clause that can be activated only by non-Italian club.
The Belgium star was linked with a move away from Naples after another brilliant season in the Serie A, with reports of interest from a couple of clubs in Europe.
Manchester United were believed to be frontrunners in the deal but could not sign as Napoli tied Mertens to a long term deal to fend off interest from suitors but they have been given a boost in their pursuit of the striker after the club president Aurelio De Laurentis confirmed clubs outside Italy have the chance to sign the Belgian star in future.
He said: ‘In life you have to learn. Experience shows, no one is born a professor. The new clause can only be exercised by a foreign team. In Italy, Mertens will play only for Napoli.’
The 29-year-old was said to be keen on leaving the club this summer, with his sights set on moving to the Premier League but will have to wait till at least next summer.
Jose Mourinho is keen on adding a number of attacking targets to his current squad this summer to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney who might have finished their career at Old Trafford.
