Chelsea close in on £22m deal for young Portuguese star

Bernardo Silva has been linked with Barcelona and Chelsea

 

CHELSEA are frontrunners to sign highly-rated Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva, according to reports.

 

The Blues and Barcelona have both been linked with the Portugal international in recent weeks.

And Monaco are understood to be open to selling the 21-year-old, providing their £21.6million price-tag is met by either club.

 

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo report Barca will seek to complete a deal once the January window opens and their transfer embargo is lifted.

However, according to Fichajes, they'll be hard-pushed to outdo Chelsea who are leading the charge for the Portuguese.

 

Bernardo Silva has scored three times for Monaco this season

Blues boss Jose Mourinho is expected to make signings in the winter window in an effort to turn around his side's dreadful start to their title defence.

They currently sit 16th in the Premier League, having already lost eight of their 15 matches this season.

Silva has made 23 appearances for Monaco this term in all competitions, with all three of his goals coming in Ligue 1.