Maurizio Sarri will reportedly try and persuade Napoli star Dries Mertens to join him at Chelsea, if the ex-Napoli manager gets the job at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are still expected to part ways with Antonio Conte this summer, and hope to land Sarri as a replacement for the Italian.

It is believed that Chelsea already have their own set of transfer targets to pursue, but Sarri would like to bring in one or two of his own if he was to take the hot seat at Stamford Bridge, with bringing in Mertens said to be a big aim of his.

According to The Telegraph, Sarri has told close friends that he’s looking to bring the Belgian forward with him to London.

Mertens, who has scored 67 goals for Napoli since Sarri took charge of the club back in 2015, has been one of the most highly rated forwards in the game for many years.

We all know Chelsea are in for a winger this summer, with reports stating that the Blues want to bring in Jack Grealish or Anthony Martial. However, Sarri might well have his mind set on bringing Mertens to play on the right side of a front three at Stamford Bridge.

His name has been linked with Chelsea before, with Antonio Conte supposedly enquiring about the Belgian two years ago. The player himself revealed last year that the Blues were keen on signing him, saying: “Yes there was interest [from Chelsea], and from other clubs also, but in my head there was never an intention to change clubs,” he told Sky Sports.

“Yes there is a buyout clause. But I’m happy at Napoli and I want to stay. I really like Italy. I am good there and they treat me good.”