The Belgian forward’s contract with the Italian side expires in the summer, but he is on the move before the winter transfer window shuts.
According to Le10 Sport, Mertens won’t remain at Napoli beyond this year, with Chelsea and Inter Milan keen on signing him, and both teams have started talks to make him sign on the dotted line.
The report states that many clubs in Europe are keen on the experience ahead. The Belgian joined Napoli from PSV and has gone on to become one of the main players to the Italian side. Mertens has made 22 appearances for Napoli this year, scoring 9 goals and making 4 assists.
Mertens has developed into one of the funniest forward in Europe over the past few years and nearly fired them to a Serie A title in 2017-18 season. The Belgian is a fast and skillful attacker who began out his career broad, before being transformed into a striker.
He has the ability to dribble past players, with his pace in addition to his close control to great effect. Mertens is a versatile player who can play as a centre-forward, as a fictitious nine, another striker, or out wide as an inside forward.
The Belgian is a player with plenty of ability and is smart enough to drift into empty pockets of space to cause trouble to the opposition defence.
Mertens could play the left or as a second striker in Chelsea, playing in and around Tammy Abraham at the Blues lineup. He would be a terrific foil to Abraham and can create several opportunities in the last third, and are the ideal replacement for compatriot Eden Hazard, who left the club before the 2019-20 season.
The former PSV man could also be the next choice from the striker’s role behind Abraham for director Frank Lampard, as Olivier Giroud is set to leave the club, whereas Michy Batshuayi hasn’t been consistent enough.
