INTER MILAN are reportedly looking to hijack Chelseas move for Dries Mertens.
Calciomercato claims Antonio Conte is preparing a two-year contract worth 7million to bring the Napoli star to the San Siro on a free transfer this summer.
And that would leave Chelsea empty-handed ahead of Fridays winter transfer window deadline.
Frank Lampard is keen on bringing Mertens, 32, to Stamford Bridge as he looks to secure a top-four finish ahead of Spurs and Manchester United.
Chelsea had been looking at Edinson Cavani before Atletico Madrid made a 15m bid.
And the need for a new forward is strong with Olivier Giroud likely to move on.
However, its reckoned that Mertens wants to stay at Napoli until the end of the season to break Marek Hamsiks goal record.
He needs just five more strikes to move above the Slovakians haul of 122.
And the chances of Chelsea missing out on Mertens have increased further as Inter are keen on signing the Belgium only once he has accomplished his feat.
Conte wants Mertens to replace Alexis Sanchez when the Chilean returns to Manchester United this summer.
And the fact Mertens gets to stay at Napoli for an extra half-season makes Inters offer much more attractive than Chelseas, who want to do business immediately.
Mertens has scored 118 goals in 300 appearances for Napoli and netted 34 times in the 16/17 campaign after former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri converted him from a winger into a striker.
He has also been capped 86 times by Belgium and his agent Federico Pastorello recently claimed Mertens wants to play in the Premier League.
Pastorello said: If I think about a good opportunity in the market, it would be Mertens from Napoli. He is out of contract.
He is an amazing player. I think he will be soon the best scorer in the history of the club.
“He has proven himself in the Champions League because he scored in that competition and the national team.
I think a player like that, out of contract, is an amazing opportunity, even maybe for January.
Every player really wants to play in the Premier League at least once, so I think he would be very happy to play there.
I know him very well tactically and technically, and I think he can be a successful player in the Premier League.
