Chelsea have reportedly informed Sporting Lisbon that they are prepared to pay Manuel Ugarte's £52million release clause, as the Blues make a last-ditch effort to beat Paris Saint-Germain to his signature.
Reports in France and Portugal on Thursday claimed that PSG were on the brink of completing a move for the Uruguayan midfielder.
Lisbon-based newspaper Correio da Manha said Ugarte would sign a five-year contract to join the French champions.
This followed PSG informing Ugarte's agent Jorge Mendes that they would trigger the £52m clause in his contract.