8.15pm Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Blues ‘leading’ Ziyech chase, Mertens betting suspended, Chilwell summer target – The Sun

FRANK LAMPARD is growing increasingly frustrated as Chelsea have £150m to spend but have signed fewer players than they did in the summer… under a transfer ban.

But the Blues have reportedly begun negotiations with Dries Mertens as they look to improve their options on the wing.

Get all the latest Chelsea transfer news and gossip from Stamford Bridge here…

  • OH CHRIST

    Chelsea made an attempt to sign Christian Eriksen before he joined Ajax, his former coach has revealed.

    Tonny Hermansen told Tuttomercatoweb.com: “Eriksen has made a sensational climb, burning the stages already when as a kid the Danish national team made him play with categories above his age.

    “I remember that all the big names wanted him before Ajax: Chelsea, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Milan … But Christian chose the best place to continue growing and training as a man as well as being a footballer.”

  • CURTAINS FOR MERTENS?

    Chelsea face an uphill battle trying to persuade Dries Mertens to swap Italy for the Premier League.

    The experienced Belgian striker has been targeted by boss Lampard to ease his goalscoring problems and help push for a top four finish.

    But Mertens, 32, maintains he has a personal ambition to achieve first by becoming Napoli’s record goalscorer before he leaves, and sits just four short of Marek Hamsik’s 122 haul.

    Lampard first identified Mertens as a possible addition to his squad back in early December and the Blues have been monitoring the player since.

    Mertens is also out of contract at Napoli at the end of this season who have been advised to cash in on their man.

  • EDIN TO SPAIN

    Chelsea target Edinson Cavani has already said his goodbyes to his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates as he closes in on a move to Atletico Madrid, according to reports.

    The Uruguayan's brother and agent has jetted to the Spanish capital to negotiate a final wage packet ahead of his high-profile switch.

    According to AS, Cavani has already distanced himself away from the club having not featured in their last four matches.

  • TAR GAMES

    Exclusive by Dan King: Crystal Palace and Brighton want to strike a last-minute £6m deal for Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey.

    The Blues’ Premier League rivals have joined a host of clubs in the race to sign the right back, 19, and are eager to tie things up before Friday’s transfer deadline.

    French club Lille have been trying to persuade Lamptey to sign a pre-contract with them.

    But it is believed the player would prefer to stay in England.

    Sunsport revealed the England Under-20 international was stalling on the new deal offered by Chelsea.

  • CHIL OUT

    Frank Lampard has made Leicester City full-back Ben Chilwell his top summer transfer target.

    The Chelsea manager will be handed a large war chest to rebuild his squad at the end of the season after the club's two-window transfer ban was lifted.

    Chilwell, 23, will be his no1 target according to reports from ESPN – with Lamps keen to add the England international defender to his squad before the start of next season.

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