Dries Mertens is keeping his options open with his current Napoli contract due to expire on June 30, with Chelsea and Inter both interested in signing the Belgium international forward.
The 32-year-old was close to renewing his Napoli contract before the coronavirus-enforced shutdown brought football across Europe and much of the world to a halt. Negotiations between Mertens and his club are now at a standstill and, with many of the continent's clubs facing uncertain financial futures, out-of-contract stars like Mertens are expected to be in increasing demand.
Frank Lampard is a known admirer of Mertens and Chelsea even tried to sign him on a short-term deal in January to refresh their options in attack.
The Blues were unable to find a viable solution to sign Mertens with the Belgian reluctant to leave as he approached becoming the all-time top scorer for the club.
The striker matched the goalscoring record set by Marek Hamsik by netting in the Champions League match against Barcelona but he is still keen on earning the record outright.
He is also seen as an icon amongst the Napoli fans and he wants to maintain a good image despite his recent fraught relations with club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis.
The pair patched up their grievances in a lunch meeting ahead of the lockdown on March 1 with De Laurentiis having bought his forward's match shirt from Napoli's game against Barcelona at a charity auction.
Napoli were keen to renew Mertens' contract but the coronavirus situation has complicated matters. Budgets are squeezed even at the biggest clubs, leaving players with contracts expiring in strong negotiating positions.
Chelsea had only wanted to sign Mertens on a short-term deal in the hope of convincing a younger star to join in the summer with Dortmund's Jadon Sancho topping a list that also included RB Leipzig's Timo Werner and Lyon's Moussa Dembele.
One sticking point to complete a deal for the Blues is that they typically only offer one-year contracts for players aged 30 and over and the Belgium international will turn 33 in May.
Inter are among Chelsea's competition for the forward, who has scored 12 goals and added six assists in 29 appearances in the 2019-20 season. Mertens will also seek assurances from any club that he will be a regular starter.
Womabilmnu
1
let's bring him
mimcksuz
0
Chelsea plz don sign this old man then if this old man will be sign then extend William contract
luhbenopry
0
We are looking for goal dynamic scorers, who will assist Abrahams upfront,cos Football games are won by scoring more goals, than your opponents. Let's sign this Mertens,add Declan Rice in the middle field, allow Emerson ,Pedro and maybe Joginho to leave. Seal the leaky backline with Telles and Upenecano, full stop.
funbiklsyz
0
I don't know why people argue that he is old and bla bla bla. if he is old then how old is Ibrah? this guys is amazing. He plays like a youngster and it doesn't matter his age guys. besides he is free too. we can save money to buy other players we need.
hekekmu
1
Why are we going for old man,what do Chelsea see in him?.don't sign please instead let Abraham continue him development
facbcino
0
Chelsea's board full of dummies, why think about signing 32?
he is far of better than ur baby Abraham
ciuadiprt
1
Chelsea's board full of dummies, why think about signing 32?
Hoocmnsty
0
we don't need a strike at 33, unless he's cr7
Good take ! Only CR7 should be bought at that age
Cunceklz
1
no need to sign old player
ziodiklpz
1
Why don't we look for someone who is still younger
GodfreyMutei
1
we don't need a strike at 33, unless he's cr7
D_Kop
4
it look like the Ney Lautaro transfer saga is finish and we now have a new competitor for the transfer saga D'or
Amgnonijunior
3
Lampard keep calling him
Wiubostu
1
mnbv