The 32-year-old Dries Mertens has been tipped to leave the Stadio San Paolo on a free transfer this summer after originally joining the Serie A club from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2013.
Blues head coach Frank Lampard is so keen on sealing a move for Dries Mertens in the summer that he reportedly calls the Belgian “almost every day,” in a bid to convince him to move to Stamford Bridge.
Mertens is now entering the final few months of his contract with Napoli, having developed into one of the club’s biggest stars over the past few seasons.
Earlier in February this year, Mertens became the joint-top goalscorer in Napoli’s illustrious history when he scored in a Champions League clash against LaLiga giants Barcelona.
There have been multiple clubs linked with a move for the Belgian superstar, who has been in demand due to his availability on a free transfer after the current season ends.
Mertens has been productive in the 2019-20 campaign, scoring 12 times and notching up a further six assists in 29 total appearances for the Partenopei under Gennaro Gattuso.
But Mertens has reportedly fallen out with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis, which could more likely confirm his departure from the Stadio San Paolo in the summer transfer market.
As a number of clubs circle around Mertens, Chelsea are especially eager to get a deal confirmed with the Belgium international as Lampard looks to bolster his attacking options. Although Chelsea have extended Olivier Giroud’s contract at the club by 12 months, Lampard is in touch with Mertens and is trying to convince the attacker for a move to west London.
