Belgian forward Dries Mertens is inching closer to a move to Premier League side Chelsea from Napoli in the summer transfer window. Mertens, whose contract with the Italian club expires in the summer, is reportedly not keen on extending his stay at the club.
According to Daily Mail, the experienced forward is interested in a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, even though he has offers from several clubs. The 32-year-old has been at Napoli since 2013 and is tied with Marek Hamsik as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 121 goals. In the current season, Mertens has scored 12 goals and provided 6 assists in 29 games in all competitions.
Dries Mertens: How will he fit in?
The Daily Mail report has revealed that Chelsea manager Frank Lampard wants a striker, a left-back and a central defender in the summer transfer window. Dries Mertens is capable of playing as a striker, as a false nine, second striker, or out wide as an inside forward or winger. The versatile attacker can play in numerous positions, and it is this versatility and his goalscoring prowess that has possibly attracted interest from Chelsea.
The summer transfer window will most likely see two of Chelsea’s experienced wingers – Willian and Pedro, leave the club, as both of their contracts are set to expire in the summer. This means that the Blues will have to make a few additions to wide areas as they look to refurbish the attack.
The other options that Lampard has in wide areas are youngsters, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic. Mason Mount can also play as a left-sided wide player, but one or two wingers have to be signed in the summer, with Mount playing his best football through the middle. Mertens could play off the left, while Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi can occupy the right-sided role for the Blues.
Lampard also needs additional options in the striker position as the future of Olivier Giroud – who is also out of contract in the summer – hasn’t been resolved yet. If Giroud leaves, the Chelsea manager will only have Tammy Abraham and the underperforming and unreliable Michy Batshuayi as options up top. Mertens could fit in that role as well, either playing off Abraham or Batshuayi or even lead the line himself having done so with aplomb at his present club.
The Belgian will be used either on the left or as a centre forward under Lampard at Chelsea and could well end up being a smart and effective transfer if he does end up signing.