Chelsea have increased their offer for Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes.

Zenit rejected Chelsea's first bid of £26.8m over the weekend.

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea have now raised that offer to £31.2m.

It is believed Zenit are holding out for £36m for the Portuguese.

Blues boss Maurizio Sarri is desperate to sign another midfielder after Cesc Fabregas joined Monaco last week.

Paredes could potentially earn a four-year deal worth £80,000-a-week.