Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic confirmed that Premier League champions Chelsea are among a host of top European clubs vying for his signature, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia).
The 19-year-old playmaker has shot to prominence while playing for the Serbian Superliga side over the last couple of years, resulting in Chelsea keeping a close eye on his progress this season.
The no.8 midfielder has a contract with Red Star until June 2018, though. According to the aforementioned report, this means Chelsea or any other potential suitors will have to pay €6 million (£4.2m) to snap him up.
Speaking about Chelsea’s interest, he said: “Nemanja Matic is a friend. He’s Serbian and he has been at Chelsea for over a year. He tells me that they want me.”
Chelsea’s interest in the youngster shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, as over the past few years the club have been extremely active when it comes to signing talented youngsters. The most recent example would be Kenedy, who joined from Fluminense this summer for £6.7m (fee via Mail).
If Grujic does indeed make the move to Stamford Bridge in the near future, it is likely he would follow a similar path to a number of other young players on the club’s books, by spending a period out on loan elsewhere; Chelsea currently have over 30 players currently out on loan.