Report: Chelsea closing in on £31m midfielder Leandro Paredes

Chelsea are reportedly close to completing a double swoop for Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes and Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain.

The Blues are expected to finalise an initial loan agreement with Juve for Higuain, who has spent the first half of the campaign at AC Milan, at some stage this weekend.

According to The Express, Paredes will follow close behind as Chelsea are on the verge of shaking hands on a £31m deal with Zenit for the 24-year-old.

Chelsea are believed to have had a £26.8m offer knocked back by the Russian side earlier this month, but their second offer is closer to Zenit's £36m valuation.

Paredes, considered a direct replacement for Cesc Fabregas, starred for Roma in Serie A prior to joining Zenit in July 2017.