Napoli star Dries Mertens was strongly linked with a transfer to Chelsea in the January transfer window, as the Blues sought to buy a striker, but a deal never materialized.
Chelsea held talks with the Belgian, but he didn’t push for a move because of the Napoli record he wanted to break.
Mertens was just two goals away from becoming Napoli’s all-time top goalscorer, and he was keen on setting the record – which is why he didn’t push for a move to Chelsea even though he was interested in a move to London.
Mertens has managed to draw level with Hamšík on 121 goals, but then he got injured and the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) report that Mertens’ representatives are “evaluating various possibilities” regarding the future of the Argentine.
However, with Mertens at 32, and Chelsea considering extending the contract of 33-year-old Olivier Giroud, it could be one for the other at Stamford Bridge next season.