Chelsea are reportedly set to enter a transfer battle with Premier League rivals Manchester City for the signature of one of Europe's hottest talents, according to Manchester Evening News.
Juventus star Paul Pogba has been long linked with a move to the Premier League with reports suggesting incoming City manager Pep Guardiola views the 22-year-old as a top transfer target.
But it is understood that incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants to bring the Serie A to Stamford Bridge this summer to bolster his options in midfield after a disastrous season for the former Premier League champions.
The report suggests Chelsea have stolen a march on City after it was claimed the former Manchester United midfielder is in "dialogue" with the west London club about a potential blockbuster move.
The Frenchman has been in Serie A since 2012 and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe, but it is believed the former United player may be looking for pastures new in order to continue developing.
Conte was part of his development, after managing him for two successful years; winning the Scudetto on two occasions before leaving in 2014.
Any transfer fee involving the Frenchman, however, will be in the region of £80m (a British record), which has seen the likes of La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona cool their interest in the starlet.
The fee is in the region of what Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2009, in what was a world record fee at the time, and Pogba wants to emulate the Portuguese's talents along with a host of greats in the game.
"?The 22-year-old said: "Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, [Lionel] Messi, everyone. [Andres] Iniesta," he added. "I'm serious. All players rolled into one.
"From defensive midfielder to attacking midfielder to attacker. I want to take the qualities from everyone. I'd like to get to the level where I have everything: [Patrick] Vieira, [Didier] Deschamps, Zidane, Ronaldinho, [Thierry] Henry, Ronaldo. It wouldn't be bad, that."