CHELSEA reportedly sent scouts to watch Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as part of their preparation for a summer bid.
A transfer embargo kept transfer activity down to a minimum at Stamford Bridge in pre-season and they are expected to push hard once it ends.
According to Daily Mail, the Blues reckon they can open bidding with an offer of 52million next year.
Lazio have remained belligerent in the face of Manchester United and Juventus interest but Chelsea hope their defence will soon fall.
Talk of an 86m valuation has persisted while Milinkovic-Savic continues to star for Lazio.
Club president Claudio Lotito rates the midfielder as his star man having scored 33 goals and assisted a further 23 since joining four years ago.
Reports in Italy claim rivals United have already secured a verbal agreement with Milinkovic-Savic over personal terms.
The Serbian international featured for the Aquile on Thursday night as they lost 2-1 to Celtic in full view of Chelsea, and no doubt plenty of other club’s, scouts.
A profit of 133m was racked up by the West London side in pre-season and their embargo ends next summer.
However Sun Sport revealed earlier in the week that Chelsea are mapping out a January spending spree amid growing confidence the Court of Arbitration for Sport will quash their ban on appeal.
In that event, a winger and striker to replace Willian and Olivier Giroud are the priorities – targets including Callum Wilson and Timo Werner.
