Tottenham switch attention to alternative Belgian star
With it seeming as if the superstar will undoubtedly be heading for a bigger club in 2012, any news of Eden Hazard coming to White Hart Lane this year has apparently died away, with the North London club now said to be chasing his compatriot, Dries Mertens.
The pint-sized attacker only moved to PSV last summer along with Kevin Strootman in a double swoop for the Dutch side, but he has settled magnificently in his new side, becoming a key component to their season.
Mertens has made 28 starts for PSV this season, scoring 18 goals but also registering 16 assists making for a promising future.
In the past year, the 24 year-old has also made his way into the Begian international side despite not having appeared for his country at any youth level and has gone on to make eight appearances for the Rode Duivels.
With Steven Pienaar now on loan at former club Everton and Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric continually linked with moves away from the club, Tottenham may need creative reinforcements should they decide to sell in the summer.
If there’s anything Mertens offers, creativity is one of them with this season’s assist tally alone proving very impressive.
Mertens has made a name for himself as a pacey wide player capable of beating his opposite with sheer speed, much akin to Lennon however seemingly with a potentially better end product.
PSV won’t be keen on letting go of a player who will have been at the club for barely 12 months, but may be tempted to make a quick profit on the star who is thought to carry a valuation of €14m.
