Chelsea are lining up a £29million bid for FC Porto midfielder Ruben Neves in the January transfer window.
The Blues have made a poor start in attempting to retain the Premier League title this season with the London club managing to pick up just eight points from the opening seven fixtures.
Chelsea scouts have been monitoring the 18-year-old since he burst onto the scene in 2014 and have gave promising reports back to boss Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho was eager to sign 21-year-old Everton defender John Stones in the summer, but failed with three lucrative offers for the England international.
The Evening Standard report that the gaffer is ready to splash the cash in January in an attempt to sign Neves, a Portugal U21 star, but Porto have slapped a £29million release clause on the midfielder.
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)
