Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is in hot pursuit of Napoli forward Dries Mertens to add some much-needed experience and depth to his forward line in the summer.
The 33 year old Belgian international is also wanted by Serie A club Inter Milan.
Mertens is out of contract at Napoli this summer and the Serie A club are keen on extending his stay at the club.
Mertens has spent seven seasons at Napoli since arriving in an £8million move from PSV Eindhoven and has played 309 matches, scoring 121 times – making him the club’s joint-highest goalscorer with Marek Hamsik.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Napoli are now close to tying down the 33-year-old forward to a new contract until June 2022.
Lampard had been in constant contact with Mertens in a bid to convince him to move to Stamford Bridge and will be devastated with the news that the 33 year old has snubbed a move to Chelsea.