Reports in Holland suggest that Chelsea have entered the race for FC Twente’s highly-rated forward Marko Arnautovic.
The Austria international, 20, is also believed to be attracting interest from Serie A champions Inter after impressing in De Eredivise by scoring 12 goals and claiming five assists in 26 games for Steve McClaren’s side this season.
Now De Telegraaf reports that Chelsea have articulated their interest in the player and that Arnautovic is thought to favour a move to Stamford Bridge.
The forward signed a new contract at the start of the season that ties him to the Dutch club until 2011 but his agent recently revealed that a move to England would tempt his client.
“Of course he would be interested in The Premier League,” Roberto Groener told setanta.com in April. “It is the best league in the world.”
Chelsea could well be hunting for attacking reinforcements as speculation persists over Didier Drogba’s future at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are also known to have declared an interest in Wolfsburg’s prolific striker Edin Dzeko as well as an unlikely pursuit of Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.