Chelsea are stepping up their pursuit of Brazilian teenage sensation Lulinha.

The Independent says Chelsea are sending two scouts to watch the 17-year-old play on Wednesday evening. It is now hoped by the Premier League club that an £8m deal to sign the precocious striker may be agreed in time for the January transfer window.

The scouts were sent to Rio Janeiro at the behest of Frank Arnesen, Chelsea's chief scout and director of youth development, who is determined to sign Lulinha having missed out on another Brazilian prodigy, Alexandre Pato, last summer despite offering more than £13m for the teenager who later joined AC Milan.

Lulinha currently plays for the Brazilian club Corinthians and the scouts watched him in the 2-1 away defeat to Flamengo. Despite the loss, which leaves the famous old club near the bottom of the league table, Lulinha caught the eye by setting up his team's goal with a solo run.