Chelsea believe they are closing in on Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco, with a proposed £35million fee well-documented.
Antonio Conte wants to pair the midfielder with N'Golo Kante, giving the Blues two relentless runners with the stamina to torment opponents and the skill to win the ball cleanly.
Bakayoko has been compared with Yaya Toure and should be right at home in the Premier League.
Chelsea made a slow start to this their summer transfer business but the Premier League champions appear set to step it up as the clock ticks down to the window opening next month.