Chelsea target Mertens becomes a free agent at the end of June and Lampard was him desperately.
Dries Mertens is more of a veteran of the game now. The Belgian international signed with Napoli in 2013 and has been with the club for 7 continuous seasons now. Mertens has been the captain for Napoli for the past few years and has 12 goals and 6 assists in 29 appearances for the Italian side.
Dries Mertens is in the final few months of his contract with Napoli which is set to expire by the end of June this year. He has been the club’s go-to man in almost every scenario. In February this year, he bagged the record for the top goalscorer for Napoli after scoring his 121st goal against Barcelona. Only he and Marek Hamsik has managed this feat for the club.
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Chelsea interest in Striker
Chelsea has been linked with the move for the Belgian various times in the past. According to a Goal, the Blues tried to sign him in the January transfer window too. Both Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are expected to leave the club this summer so it seems the move is even more eminent now.
According to his transfer agent Vincenzo Morabito, “Lampard is very much interested in the Belgian and calls him almost daily”. Mertens could become a free agent this summer and this would be a boost to Chelsea’s agenda to sign him. Chelsea’s midfielder Jorginho is a good friend of Mertens and can play a key role in his move. Chelsea could reportedly sign him for a mere 8 million, a worthy bargain you would say.
Although signing him won’t be easy. According to recent reports, Inter and Newcastle are also looking to join the race for Dries Mertens. Meanwhile, the Belgian has still got to make a decision about his future.
Mertens in a skirmish with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis
Source- football london
Mertens has now been at Napoli a long time and while a move away now feels wrong, there may be certain reasons behind it. According to Morabito, the player has had a falling out with club president Aurelio de Laurentiis.
Although initially, the player did not want to leave Napoli, something changed as his intermediaries started talking with various clubs regarding a move. If a player like Mertens decides to leave after so many years of loyalty there must be an internal issue. Morabito also considers Chelsea to be favorites for landing Mertens.
Although there is another key factor in this saga. Chelsea is reportedly looking to offer only a 1-year deal to Mertens. This could be a key factor in his decision for his future as the player would like more stability. But should Mertens live up to his standards and extension would be on the way?
Mertens could prove to be a really beneficial signing for Chelsea as he has tons of experience and could provide guidance to the developing Tammy Abraham.
