Chelsea are close to signing Napoli’s Belgian striker Dries Mertens, whose contract expires with the Partenopei at the end of the season, according to a report from today’s paper edition of the Rome based newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
The report details how the Blues have appreciated the 32-year-old Belgian for a while now and are keen to sign him on a free transfer. The West London club know that they will lose French forward Olivier Giroud on a free transfer in the summer and so signing Mertens is a low-cost and effective replacement.
Chelsea are ahead of other interested clubs, the report continues. Arsenal and Manchester United are also both keen on Mertens but now have a less chance to secure his signature.
Inter have never really made a move for the Belgian, appreciating that he is unlikely to join a different club in Italy after spending the last seven years with the Partenopei.
