Chelsea have made a £26.8-million bid for Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes, according to the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson.
Paredes is reportedly considered a candidate to replace Cesc Fabregas, who joined Monaco on a permanent transfer after four-and-a-half seasons with Chelsea.
The west London club also identified Cagliari standout Nicolo Barella as a potential signing, but the Italian international is reportedly hesitant to move.
Chelsea could find it just as difficult to lure Pardes out of Russia. The 24-year-old said recently that Zenit rejected an offer from Paris Saint-Germain, per ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson.
A return to Boca Juniors, where Paredes spent his formative years, is another possibility.
However, the Blues hope to convince him by promising a four-and-a-half-year contract worth £80,000 per week, according to the Standard.
A defensive midfielder who can dictate play and distribute with ease, Paredes would feel at home in manager Maurizio Sarri's pass-first system. The former Roma player can recycle possession and kick-start attacks with a well-placed long ball.
