Chelsea are determined to burn off competition from Manchester United in the battle for AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The London Evening Standard says Chelsea were confident on Monday that a £35million deal for the Monaco midfielder would be completed in the next few days.
However, Monaco claim that Manchester United have now joined the hunt and they want a minimum of £40m for the 22-year-old.
Chelsea are already upset over seeing their first choice striker target Romelu Lukaku complete a £90m move to Old Trafford on Monday.
Bakayoko has been earmarked to play alongside N'Golo Kante in midfielder next term. Blues boss Antonio Conte went to watch him in action for Monaco on more than one occasion and believes the two Frenchman could dominate the middle of the pitch for Chelsea for years to come.
There is a suspicion at Stamford Bridge that Monaco have leaked news of Manchester United's interest to get a higher fee for Bakayoko or pressure them to allow Nemanja Matic to be sold to Jose Mourinho's side.