According to Sky Sports reporter Di Marzio (h/t Express), Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is in talks with Napoli forward Dries Mertens over a transfer to Stamford Bridge.
The 32-year-old’s contract runs out this summer and he is unlikely to pen an extension at the Stadio San Paolo.
The Blues were keen to sign the Belgian in the January transfer window. The deal, however, failed to materialize in spite of a bid worth £8.7million being made.
The versatile Belgian is a seasoned professional who has played over 500 first-team matches across four countries. Despite his age, he remains a potent force and will add both depth and experience to our squad.
According to the report, Lampard has spoken to the player, while the club has reached out to his representatives.
“They are talking to his representatives, Frank Lampard has spoken to the player and they are pushing forward to convince Mertens to accept their offer.”
With the coronavirus pandemic affecting club finances, free agents are worth their weight in gold. In Mertens, we have a player who is capable of playing at the highest level with at least a couple of seasons left in him.
Signing him will ensure Chelsea have a dependable option to call upon until the situation normalizes.
A forward is a priority for the Blues in the summer window. Tammy Abraham has been the bonafide first choice while Michy Batshuayi has been disappointing.
Oliver Giroud’s luck looks to have turned since the winter break and he looks likely to stay on at the Bridge.
Mertens was a part of the Napoli squad that won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italia in 2014.
He is Napoli’s top goalscorer this season with 12 goals in 29 appearances. His tally of 121 goals places him joint top of the club’s all-time scorers list alongside Marek Hamsik, and six more than the legendary Diego Maradona.
The 32-year-old has scored 18 times in 90 games for the Belgian national team. He also won the Belgian player of the year in 2016.
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