Chelsea boss Frank Lampard readying to submit second bid for Dries Mertens after star not ready to extend stay at Napoli |

Dries Mertens has been a long term transfer target for Chelsea due to the Belgian’s lightening performances in the city of Naples over the past three seasons.

Chelsea entered into a race to sign the Napoli forward but the Italian outfits reportedly rejected Chelsea’s move for the striker saw Mertens stayed and has netted 13 goals after 34 games across all competitions before the season was halted as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The 31 year old’s initial contract comes to end ending of this season but Napoli agreed a new deal to extend Mertens’ stay in the Seria A- which has never came to reality due to the covid-19 pandemic claimed by Gazetto dello Sport.

Mertens is believed to have preferred a move to Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window and is not ready to pen a new deal at Napoli in a bid to force his move through to Chelsea when the global crisis is over according to reports from Italy.

This would be an advantage to Chelsea who are still keeping eyes on the Belgium star- and is also chased by Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan but Frank Lampard is planning to submit a second bid to sign the Napoli ace.

Chelsea may offload many of its attacking lines where the likes of Willian, Pedro and Olivier Giroud have been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge with Italy likely to be their destination.

Knowing this, Lampard has already got business with new incomings underway after wrapping up a £38million move for Ajax star Hakim Ziyech.

They are ready to add Mertens who Lampard prefers his attacking style to many forwards the club have been linked with this season, and the Belgium transfer would cost Chelsea €27million.