You sense a summer of change is approaching at Manchester United.

Defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday reiterated the crippling inconsistency that has held back the Red Devils this season. A potential FA Cup victory and second place finish in the Premier League would mark decent success but it could have been so much more.

Stellar victories over Manchester City and Arsenal being followed by losses to West Brom and the aforementioned Brighton side, just about sums things up.

And one of the overriding topics of conversation after the trip to the Amex Stadium, was whom United should sell this summer.

There's a feeling amongst supporters that the club is harbouring a great deal of deadwood from the tenures of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. After the Brighton game, fans feel two players in particular need to be sold.

Man Utd set to spend this summer

What has been much less discussed, however, is how United will go about spending their money and who exactly they'll buy.

It seems almost inevitable that Jose Mourinho will dip into his transfer funds this summer in a bid to make it further in the Champions League and close the gap to Pep Guardiola.

While that may seem rather dramatic and eerily familiar, the heavy spending of City over the last 12 months demonstrates how effective it can be.

Mourinho has contacted Napoli's Dries Mertens

That being, United might not have to shell out the big bucks for all their transfer targets.

In fact, one of the players Mourinho is eyeing this summer has a remarkably paltry release clause that the Red Devils are just waiting to exploit.

According to The Sun, United are interested in none other than Napoli's Dries Mertens.

Martens personally revealed in November that £25 million really was the threshold, noting: "I have become a bargain - where do you find a player who scores 28 goals in Serie A and costs £25m?Nowhere, right? I negotiated well."

As a result, the star man in Napoli's side is greatly exposed to potential suitors and has wildly impressed across recent seasons.

It is even suggested in the report that Marouane Fellaini could move in the opposite direction as part of a potential deal with the Neapolitans one of the club's interested in the midfielder.

The obvious downside to Mertens is that he's now entered his thirties but his recent goalscoring record speaks for itself.

Despite only recently converting to a striker, the Belgian has amassed 45 goals over the last two seasons.

Mourinho is said to be impressed with Mertens' versatility across the front line and it is believed that the Special One has already contacted the player's entourage about a potential move.

Would the Napoli forward be a long-term staple at Old Trafford? Probably not, but you'll find few forwards in Europe with such a reputation and record for 'just' £25 million.

You can't help but look at the performances of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford last night and decide it's definitely worth the gamble.

Do you think Mertens should be a good signing for United? Have your say in the comments section below.