Chelsea are on high alert after Napoli star Dries Mertens dropped a hint that he could be interested in a reunion with his former manager Maurizio Sarri.
Mertens played under Sarri during their time together at Napoli and his current contract runs out in the summer of 2020, meaning he would be able to leave the Serie A club for free in eighteen months' time.
During an interview with The Times, the 31-year-old playmaker admitted that he is happy at Napoli but hinted that a move to Chelsea and the Premier League could interest him, particularly if Sarri remains in charge at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future.
I love it here [Napoli]," Mertens told The Times.
"But maybe in one year, I’m free, so maybe you never know, maybe Sarri is going to call me. We will see.
Mertens is clearly a big fan of his former manager as he said of Sarri,
Sarri does not have an off button. I think he sleeps one hour a night and he is always thinking about football.
Maybe because he had less time because he arrived late in the game and he is playing catch-up? I learnt a lot from him.
The thing I loved most about him is that you feel you are playing with 12 not 11. He puts the line very high so the strikers feel the midfielders are close.
I’m sure now Sarri is learning things about London. He knows so many facts, he’s crazy but interesting.
Mertens was part of the Napoli side that lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League in mid-week, meaning the Italian side were knocked out of the competition as they finished third in their group and will now go into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
It is actually Sarri's Chelsea who are the bookmakers' favourites to win the Europa League after going through their group phase of the tournament unbeaten and there is the tantalising possibility that the Blues could face Napoli later in the competition. A reunion between Sarri and Mertens could be interesting, although Chelsea fans will no doubt be hoping that a transfer can be struck to ensure the reunion is permanent.
“I came through the tunnel and I asked, ‘Where is the thing?' and they said you missed it and I hadn't noticed it. So, in the second half, I'm looking at this small thing and asking, ‘Is this so special?"
He loves to stir the pot!
