Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has reportedly made £70m-rated Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic a priority ahead of the club's transfer ban being lifted next year.
The Serbia international, who has made 176 appearances for the club since 2015, initially piqued the interest of several European suitors in the wake of an impressive 2017-18 campaign.
Reports suggested that Manchester United were heavily interested in completing a deal for the midfielder, only to balk at Lazio's demand of a £100m fee.
According to The Mirror, Chelsea are keen to add Milinkovic-Savic to their squad in order to instil some experience into the midfield area.
The West London club hope that their transfer ban will be reduced from two windows to one when the Court of Arbitration for Sport hears their appeal on November 20.
Should the ruling go their way, Milinkovic-Savic is likely to be the club's first target in the January transfer window.
Leo Nieboer
