Napoli have rejected a substantial offer for winger Dries Mertens from German outfit Wolfsburg, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Volkswagen-owned club made a €30m offer including bonuses for the Belgian international which was turned down by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. This move by Napoli signals their intentions of keeping hold of one of their prized assets.

Mertens has been taken off the transfer market by his club, with only ten days in the summer transfer window remaining which is likely to fend off further interest from Wolfsburg, who have substantial financial means.

The 28-year-old made 51 appearances for the Partenopei last season, and scored ten goals while assisting a further 12. He is a Belgian international, and was part of the Red Devils squad for the 2014 World Cup.

Napoli are under the new management of Maurizio Sarri after Rafael Benitez left this summer to join Real Madrid, and Mertens will be key for his club in the upcoming season as the Partenopei will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2014/15 campaign which saw them finish fifth.

With Kevin De Bruyne poised for a move to Manchester City, Wolfsburg’s approach for Mertens is indicative of their desperation in the dying stages of the transfer window to possibly replace their star playmaker, or bring in another star.