Chelsea are growing increasingly confident of landing Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan this summer, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.
Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has made Nainggolan, 27, one of his main transfer targets and the Blues have already opened negotiations with Roma over the player.
Roma are reluctant to lose Nainggolan, but are ready to sell the Belgium international if Chelsea meet their asking price of £35 million.
Multiple sources have told ESPN FC that Nainggolan is open to the idea of moving to Chelsea with a number of his compatriots plying their trade in the Premier League.
Conte is a long-term admirer of Nainggolan having come up against him on several occasions as manager of Juventus and he sees him as adding greater energy to the Chelsea midfield next season.
Nainggolan is regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe after impressing for Roma since his move from Cagliari in 2014, and he is set to feature for Belgium at this summer's Euro 2016 finals.
Chelsea and Conte are expected to be busy in the transfer window as they look to overhaul the squad at Stamford Bridge following a disappointing title defence this season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea remain very interested in signing John Stones and will make a fresh attempt to land him from Everton this summer, while a possible bid to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge is being actively considered, sources have told ESPN FC.