Chelsea are set to test Lyon with a £15million bid for Miralem Pjanic, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday today.
Chelsea are now favourites to sign the Bosnian midfielder after Manchester City had a £9million bid rejected in the summer.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti will be without midfield pairing Michael Essien and Jon Obi Mikel for the majority of January due to their participation in the African Cup of Nations.
Ancelotti has now made the 19-year-old playmaker his top transfer target after Chelsea’s transfer ban was suspended.
The Mail on Sunday quote a “source” who claims: "He will be leaving Lyon in the summer and it looks like Chelsea will be his new club."
Lyon are thought to be reluctant to sell one of their most valuable assets to Chelsea. However, the Blues may be prepared to loan the player back to the French side if a deal can be agreed in January.
