Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is closing in on a £25million deal for Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic of Inter Milan.
Brozovic could be sold after Inter signed Joao Mario from Sporting Lisbon and Conte is keen to add more energy and aggression in midfield.
Chelsea still hope to be active before the transfer market closes on Wednesday and are plundering Serie A at the behest of their Italian manager.
They are expected to complete the signing of left-back Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina for £23m and are still in pursuit of a central defender.