Chelsea technical advisor Petr Cech is driving their deal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz.
Former goalkeeper Cech is leading Chelsea's ambitious attempts to agree a fee with Bayer for Havertz.
The Premier League side are desperate to add the German playmaker to their attacking ranks this summer, with Frank Lampard having already landed Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Bayer, it is claimed, are holding out for £90million for Havertz but the Blues are only willing to pay in the region of £70-£75m for the highly-rated 21-year-old.
ESPN says Chelsea's technical and performance advisor Cech is leading those talks, with Bayer understood to accept Havertz will leave this summer.