Chelsea have contacted Lille's highly regarded Belgian winger Eden Hazard over a summer move to Stamford Bridge, claimed a report in French sport daily L'Equipe on Friday.
"According to our information, the London club are planning to recruit Eden Hazard, who they've been following for many months," wrote the paper, without identifying its source.
"Last season they even declared an official interest to LOSC (Lille).
"Chelsea renewed contact recently and have already made efforts to make direct contact with the Belgian attacking midfielder, finding the words and the figures to make him want to think about the proposition."
L'Equipe claimed that Hazard is "tempted" by the Chelsea offer and said that he has instructed his advisors to study the possibility of a switch to the reigning Premier League champions.
The paper, which splashed the story on its front page under the headline "Chelsea want him", suggested that a fee of 25 million euros (21 million pounds) would be sufficient to force Lille's hand.
Hazard, 20, has been at Lille since the age of 14.
He has scored three goals and provided six assists in the league this season, while his dazzling wing play has been a significant factor in Lille's rise to the top of league table.
{{/usCountry}}He has scored three goals and provided six assists in the league this season, while his dazzling wing play has been a significant factor in Lille's rise to the top of league table.
{{/usCountry}}Under contract at the northern club until 2014, he has been linked with interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the past.
Chelsea's billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, authorised a transfer splurge in the January transfer window, with Spain striker Fernando Torres and Brazil centre-back David Luiz joining the club for a combined total of over 70 million pounds (82 million euros).