Stamford Bridge side chase Goodison Park youngster.
Chelsea are reportedly in pole position to sign highly rated Everton midfielder Ross Barkley according to the Daily Star.
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Man City had been strongly linked with a genuine interest in the 20 year old but the Toffees £50m price-tag is said to have scared off the Etihad Stadium side, which takes some doing given the sums the Premier League title holders are usually happy to fork out.
Now Chelsea are said to be leading the race to snap up the England international and the Blues are said to have a good rapport with the Goodison Park side having recently done business in relation to the sale of Romelu Lukaku to the Merseyside outfit as well as the loaning of Christian Atsu.
Stamford Bridge boss Jose Mourinho may be keen to beef up his English complement having seen Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole leave over the summer but one wonders if the west London side would be willing to fork out such a huge sum for Barkley.