Chelsea has emerged as favourites to sign Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin.
The Premier League side leads the pursuit after engaging in talks to sign Golovin from CSKA Moscow for a transfer fee reportedly worth £27 million, according to Dominic Fifield of the Guardian.
Despite reported interest from rivals Arsenal and Juventus, Chelsea is confident that a deal to sign Golovin will be completed once he's finished representing Russia at the 2018 World Cup.
Golovin, whose contract at CSKA Moscow runs until 2021, has impressed during the World Cup's group stage after providing a pair of assists and scoring once to help Russia qualify for the last 16. He scored seven goals and had one assist in 36 appearances in all competitions last season at the club level.
His arrival could spell the end for Willian and Pedro at Stamford Bridge, as Fifield reports that Chelsea is optimistic that Golovin is capable of making an immediate impact in the Premier League upon his arrival.
Fifield adds that Chelsea is willing to listen to offers for Danny Drinkwater only if interested teams are willing to pay the £35-million fee that the Blues paid Leicester City for the midfielder last summer.
