Napoli confirm Dries Mertens signing

Napoli have confirmed the signing of Belgian attacker Dries Mertens, acquired for around €9.5 million from PSV Eindhoven. Mertens, 26, had been strongly linked to the Serie A side for weeks before undergoing a medical over the weekend, and it comes as no surprise that he's now officially signed a five-year contract with the Partenopei.

While Mertens isn't in the same class as some of his superstar compatriots, he'll be a valuable outlet on the flanks as new manager Rafael Benitez looks to modify Walter Mazzarri's 3-5-1-1 into something more traditional, although it remains to be seen what Mertens' presence on the right might mean for Christian Maggio. It's also not out of the question that he sees some time at centre forward -- Edinson Cavani could easily move on this summer and Mertens has demonstrated a nose for goal over the past two years at PSV.

Realistically, however, he's a better fit out wide, giving the Neapolitans a dimension they've lacked since Ezequiel Lavezzi moved to Paris Saint-Germain. Assuming Mertens adjusts to Serie A, this looks like a nifty pickup.