With Cesc Fabragas leaving Stamford Bridge for Thierry Henry's Monaco, Chelsea are currently in the market for a replacement and may just have found one in Zenit St. Petersburg's Leandro Paredes.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has offered €30m for the Argentina midfielder, with a four-year deal worth €4.5 million offered to the player
Paredes has whipped up rumours of an imminent move to the Premier League himself, after retweeting a 'Welcome To Chelsea' video on his Twitter account.
Manager Maurizio Sarri has made it known that he wants another midfielder at the club, but admitted that he had 'no idea' if he would get his wish:
(against Newcastle) Jorginho was in trouble and on the bench there wasn't a player for that position so I need a player for that position.
Paredes has made 58 appearances for Zenit since joining the club from Roma in 2017, scoring nine goals. The 24-year-old made Argentina's premlininary squad for the World Cup in Russia last summer, but did not make the cut for Jorge Sampaoli's side.
Meanwhile Fabregas has been confirmed as signing with Ligue 1 side Monaco, revealing his delight at linking up former team mate Thierry Henry in France:
It is a great pleasure to join AS Monaco, a new project for me.
The group is of quality with young players and a young coach. I'm here to help the team.
I'm looking forward to starting. We have a great match to play in Marseille on Sunday. I am very excited.
