Dries Mertens is reportedly ready to sign a new contract with Napoli, dealing a huge blow to Chelsea's hopes of signing the Belgium star.
Mertens is out of contract at the Stadio San Paolo this summer, and he had attracted heavy interest from Chelsea as they looked to capitalise on his uncertain situation at Napoli.
However, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Napoli are now close to tying down the 33-year-old forward to a new contract until June 2022.
Mertens has spent seven seasons at Napoli since arriving in an £8million move from PSV Eindhoven and has played 309 matches, scoring 121 times – making him the club's joint-highest goalscorer with Marek Hamsik.