---
title: "Conte eager to bring Dries Mertens to Chelsea"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2017/05/12/conte-eager-bring-dries-mertens-chelsea/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2017-05-12T10:12:01Z"
modified: "2017-05-12T10:12:01Z"
---

# Conte eager to bring Dries Mertens to Chelsea

With the Premier League title all but secured, Antonio Conte wants to turn his Chelsea squad into a Champions League contender next season and to do so, he needs some major investment.

According to HNL (h/t the [Metro](https://metro.co.uk/2017/05/12/antonio-conte-crazy-about-signing-dries-mertens-for-chelsea-6632433/)), Conte is crazy about signing Dries Mertens from Napoli and is eager to get the deal done this summer.

The 30-year-old is enjoying the best season of his career with Napoli, netting 30 goals and providing 13 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions and is on the radar of a number of top European clubs.

Conte is believed to have had an extensive dossier compiled on the Belgian forward ahead of a summer bid.

Mertens is also wanted by Manchester United and is only under contract until the end of next season, meaning Napoli are under pressure to make a decision on his future before the start of next season.

Napoli’s club president, Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed that Mertens will be signing a contract extension, but the report states it will feature a £21.1m release clause for teams outside of Serie A.