Napoli winger Dries Mertens has said that he does not expect to leave the club in the current transfer window.

The Belgian international has endured a frustrating season at the Partenopei and has started in just six of his 17 league appearances.

"Of course I want to play more, but I do understand where Coach [Rafael] Benitez is coming from," Mertens told Voetbal Nieuws. "If you are a wide attacker in Italy, you need to do a lot of defending and running, so that is very exhausting. Therefore the coach rotates constantly.

"This week even Gonzalo Higuain was on the bench, so that says something. And the club is also apparently very satisfied. I really see no reason to move.

"Are Schalke 04 interested in me? I do not know of specific interest. In any case, I am not going to leave Napoli for another club during the January transfer window."

Mertens is in his second season at Napoli, having joined the club from PSV Eindhoven in June 2013.