---
title: "West Ham see bid rejected for Dries Mertens"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2017/05/02/west-ham-see-bid-rejected-dries-mertens/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2017-05-02T15:09:42Z"
modified: "2017-05-02T15:09:42Z"
---

# West Ham see bid rejected for Dries Mertens

When Dimitri Payet left in January, West Ham lost a real goal threat from midfield, something they haven’t really had since he returned to Marseille.

A priority of the club this summer to sign another attacking midfielder who can not only create goals but can get on the score-sheet himself and reports in Italy say we’ve made a move for one of the best around.

> Twitter: Rifiutati 30 milioni dl #WestHam: a breve la fumata bianca. #Mertens #ForzaNapoliSempre https://t.co/9yGwyhwW8J (@RafAuriemma)

According to [Raffaele Auriemma](https://www.gonfialarete.com/2017/05/02/napoli-rifiutati-30-milioni-dal-west-ham-mertens-vicino-lannuncio-del-rinnovo/), West Ham have seen a club-record €30m bid rejected by Napoli for their star attacker Dries Mertens.

The Belgian winger has been one of the star performers in Serie A this season, recording 22 goals and eight assists in 31 league appearances thus far.

![Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2017/05/669394146.jpg)

Mertens has emerged as one of the top wide attackers in European football over the last 18 months and has been widely tipped for a big European move.

The same report claims that he is set to sign a new contract with Napoli worth €4m-per-season with a release clause for foreign clubs standing at €25m, but West Ham have tried to jump the gun with a larger offer which was rejected.

It was always unlikely that the Hammers would be able to recruit a player of Mertens’ quality, but you can’t fault their effort. There comes a time, though, where effort isn’t enough and the club need to start pulling off some impressive deals this coming summer following last year’s failure.