Chelsea have been keen on Dries Mertens since the start of the year.
The striker’s current deal at Napoli runs out on June 30th and his current employer want him to continue at the club.
Corriere dello Sport have joined other outlets in reporting the Blues and Inter Milan are also interested in the 33-year-old.
Calciomercato claims the Belgium international’s case is the ‘most difficult’ to deal for Gennaro Gattuso’s side because of his contract situation.
The Naples club fined their players following the internal mutiny last November. The attacker wants the fine to be cancelled, demands a two-year deal worth €4m per season and a signing bonus to renew his contract.
Mertens’ priority is to continue at Napoli, but Aurelio De Laurentiis has stopped at a basic offer of €3m and is not willing to cancel the fine.
The chairman’s stance makes Frank Lampard’s side, who already wanted him in January, take the lead to acquire his services on a free transfer. There’s no mention whether or not Chelsea are ready to meet Mertens’ wage demands.
