CHELSEA are reportedly in talks to sign Dries Mertens on a free transfer next summer.
Le10Sport claims the Napoli striker could be heading to Stamford Bridge when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Chelsea are in talks to sign Dries Mertens on a free transfer from NapoliCredit: Reuters
Mertens is in his seventh season with the Italian club but has only won two trophies in that time, the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup in 2014.
He is said to be seeking a move where he can compete for silverware on a regular basis.
And Chelsea are apparently in negotiations after Mertens entered the final six months of his Napoli deal.
Frank Lampard is on the hunt for new signings and may feel Mertens, who started off as a winger before being converted into a ‘false nine’ striker, can bring something different to the table.
The former PSV Eindhoven star, 32, also has an offer from Inter Milan.
But whether that complicates Antonio Conte’s current approach for Chelsea hit man Olivier Giroud is unclear.
Inter have offered £3.4million to sign the France international this month.
However, Chelsea are demanding at least £8.5m to let him leave Stamford Bridge.
Lampard hopes to replace Giroud with Lyon’s Moussa Dembele before the end of the winter transfer window.
And Mertens could arrive next summer as a replacement for fellow Belgian Michy Batshuayi, who is wanted by Roma.
Mertens has scored 118 times in 300 appearances for Napoli.
And with nine goals – as well as four assists – under his belt already this season, he can still do a fine job in the final third.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
