Chelsea reportedly have another option if they fail in their bid to sign Dries Mertens this summer.
Chelsea will be in need of adding another striker to the side once the transfer window opens up, and there has been alot of talk in the media that Mertens is the man that frank Lampard is most keen on.
Regarded as one of the finest players in Serie A , Mertens is all set to depart Napoli after failing to agree a new deal with the club and Chelsea were reportedly favourites to get a transfer deal done
But Mertens recently came out and told Chelsea that he wants to stay in Italy, pretty much putting an end to Chelsea’s chase this summer, but Chelsea fans have been told that Lampard already have another option.
Transfer expert Ian McGarry said on the Transfer Window podcast: “Their pursuit of Belgium international Dries Mertens has taken a rather unusual twist in that the player’s representative, we understand, has informed the Stamford Bridge club that Mertens would prefer to stay in Italy beyond his contract expiring with Napoli in June this year, and indeed that there is interest in signing him on a freedom of contract from both Inter Milan and Roma, amongst others.
“Mertens was Frank Lampard’s preferred replacement for Willian.
“That would be a setback for Lampard should Mertens decide to stay in Italy, given that at this moment in time there is one backup transfer target that I understand but one who he is much less keen on and one who would be much more expensive than obviously the free 33-year-old, who would come in and do a job right across the attacking midfield, and Lampard likes to set up in a three.
“This was one that I understand Lampard was confident about, and remains quite confident about, because of the low-cost, low-risk in terms of the player. No fee, the contract wouldn’t be particularly expensive.” Chelsea are linked with a whole host of players that would improve the side and we are very interested to see just whom else the Blues could sign if and when they miss out on the possible signature of Mertens.