Chelsea enquire over Napoli striker Mertens as Lampard’s striker search goes on
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea CorrespondentLast updated 34 minutes ago18:57 29/01/2020Getty Images
The Blues have been on the hunt for attacking reinforcements during the January window and are now eyeing the Belgium international forward
Chelsea have made an enquiry over the possibility of signing Napoli striker Dries Mertens in the final days of the January transfer window.
Frank Lampard has made no secret of the fact he is keen to add attacking reinforcements to his squad this month but has been left frustrated in his pursuit of genuine competition for Tammy Abraham.
The Blues have been keen on Paris Saint-Germain star Edinson Cavani, with the Uruguay international having made it clear to the French champions that he wishes to leave the club.
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But Cavani remains hopeful that his destination will be Atletico Madrid rather than Stamford Bridge, and as such Chelsea are now changing direction with just over 48 hours until the window shuts.
Despite Mertens being out of contract at the end of the season, Napoli are reluctant to let him leave this month.
The Belgium international is ranked second in the club’s list of all-time goalscorers on 118, and needs to find the net on just three more occasions to pull level with Marek Hamsik at the top of the charts.
But a strained relationship with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has now put his future in doubt, with reports in Italy suggesting he is coming to the end of his time at the San Paolo.
Chelsea could sign the 32-year-old – who they previously coveted when Antonio Conte was in charge in 2017 – on a pre-contract agreement for the summer, but Lampard wants a striker immediately and has previously stated that the club are targeting ‘short-term’ options to help support top scorer Tammy Abraham.
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