Chelsea to step up Dries Mertens pursuit, extend Giroud’s contract

Chelsea are set to pursue their interest in Napoli forward Dries Martens as Olivier Giroud extend his contract by another year, reports dailystar.co.uk.
The Blues have been linked with the Belgian over the last two transfer windows. And they have launched a new bid for the 32-year-old earlier this week, looking for more goals in their ranks.
They were also set to lose Olivier Giroud, who was close to an Inter Milan move in January – but has now committed to another year at Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman has a one-year clause which is active on June 30, meaning the Serie A side would now have to agree a fee with the Blues if they still want him.
And contract clauses also bring positive news for Chelsea in Mertens’ case, with the forward’s running out the next day.
With 121 goals in more than 300 appearances for Napoli, the 32-year-old has been one of most consistent performers in Europe.
And Belgian football expert Kristof Terreur, though, believes the 32-year-old – who is Napoli’s all-time top-scorer – is open to a London switch.
“That record was always in his mind, he wanted to get that record,” he told the Transfer Window Podcast.
“He didn’t want to push for a move either, he wasn’t pushing for it, so he wasn’t actively searching.
“It was an interesting phone call from Chelsea. I think they wanted him because he could play in four positions.
“He could play as a striker, as a false nine, he can play on the left, he can play on the right, he can play as a No 10.
“He’s quite versatile and him and his missus have always liked London so if there was a chance to move to London, they wouldn’t reject that. But everything had to be perfect and everyone had to agree to it and in this case there wasn’t even any advanced negotiations so he didn’t push for it in the end.”