Reports have emerged as to why Frank Lampard is desperate to sign Dries Mertens even as Chelsea face an uphill battle trying to persuade the Napoli hitman.

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

According to the Telegraph, Mertens in many ways fits exactly what Lampard is looking for, as he can play through the middle or from wide positions and is comfortable in a front three or in a pair.

He would be able to play instead of Tammy Abraham or alongside Chelsea’s striker from one of the wide positions, which would give Lampard far greater options.

Belgian international Mertens has scored 118 goals for Napoli over seven seasons at the club, having previously been prolific at PSV Eindhoven.

But the 32-year-old 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.

Chelsea would have to offer him at least an 18-month deal worth £150,000-a-week to stand any chance of striking a deal. An agreement with Napoli and the player is currently rated as being difficult but not entirely impossible.

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.