Reports are emerging this morning that Chelsea have beaten Manchester United to the signing of Monaco midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko for a fee in the region of £40m.
The Blues are expected to complete the transfer following a medical on Friday, with betting now suspended on the move.
The Frenchman has been Antonio Conte's first choice throughout the transfer window, as the Premier League Champions look to strengthen the depth of their midfield ahead of the new season.
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Chelsea had hoped to finalise terms before the start of pre-season training, but the medical was cancelled as the 22-year-old continued his recovery after undergoing a minor knee operation at the end of last season.
They were hoping to get him for a modest £35m, but the threat posed by Manchester United who 'beat them' to the signing of Romelu Lukaku has forced them to act quickly and up their offer.
While Chelsea are confident Bakayoko's injury problem won't pose an issue as far as passing the medical is concerned, there are doubts whether he will be fit for their first game of the season against Burnley on August 12.
The transfer will help appease Conte though, who has been frustrated that the club have acquired only Willy Caballero and Antonio Rudiger thus far.
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The Blues are also in the market for a striker.
Ladbrokes have made Chelsea the new favourites to land Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, after long-time targets Man United turned their attention to Romelu Lukaku.
In a shock twist, the Belgian striker is now expected to sign for the Red Devils while the Blues are looking more likely than ever to land Morata, despite not even being in the running for his signature last night.
The bookies made it just 1/20 for Lukaku to return to Stamford Bridge less than two weeks ago, while Morata has previously been as short as 1/10 for a move to Old Trafford.
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But it's all change in both markets, with Antonio Conte now expected to add the Real Madrid ace to his ranks before the transfer window slams shut.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "You couldn't write this one; Morata was set for United, as was Lukaku for Chelsea, but the latest odds are suggesting a different outcome altogether come September."
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