CURTAINS FOR MERTENS? Chelsea face uphill transfer battle to land Dries Mertens with striker keen to break Napoli goal record

CHELSEA face an uphill battle trying to persuade Dries Mertens to swap Italy for the Premier League.

Posted Thursday, January 30, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk

The experienced Belgian striker has been targeted by boss Lampard to ease his goalscoring problems and help push for a top four finish.

CURTAINS FOR MERTENS? Chelsea face uphill transfer battle to land Dries Mertens with striker keen to break Napoli goal record
Belgium striker Dries Mertens is chasing history with Napoli after six years with the Italians, making it more difficult for Chelsea to sign him Credit: EPA

CURTAINS FOR MERTENS? Chelsea face uphill transfer battle to land Dries Mertens with striker keen to break Napoli goal record
Slovakia star Marek Hamsik's Napoli record of 122 goals is in the sights of Chelsea target Dries Mertens Credit: Getty - Contributor

But Mertens, 32, maintains he has a personal ambition to achieve first by becoming Napoli’s record goalscorer before he leaves.

He currently sits agonisingly close just four short of club legend Marek Hamsik’s 122 goals.

Lampard first identified Mertens as a possible addition to his squad back in early December and the Blues have been monitoring the player since.

Mertens is also out of contract at Napoli at the end of this season who have been advised to cash in on their man.

Lampard is running out of time to find a new centre forward who he believes can add quality to his squad.

France veteran Olivier Giroud is in the Chelsea departure lounge waiting for the green light to go.

Giroud, 32, has barely figured under Lampard despite winning the World Cup with France in 2018 and has held talks with his boss about leaving.

Giroud is concerned for his Euro 2020 place if he stays put.

Inter Milan have been in for him but Chelsea’s rivals Tottenham have also showed a cheeky interest although it is unlikely any deal will be done between the two London clubs.

Lampard is currently relying on relative rookie Tammy Abraham to lead his line. But the 22-year-old is battling to overcome an ankle injury which he suffered against Arsenal last week.