Chelsea are preparing a 15 million pound bid for Lyon’s highly-rated teenage playmaker Miralem Pjanic , according to a report in the Mail on Sunday today.

Daniel King writes: "Manchester City had a £9m offer for the 19-year-old Bosnian rejected last summer but Chelsea have closed in on Pjanic in recent weeks and are favourites to sign one of Europe’s most exciting young talents in January. Sporting director Frank Arnesen watched the second leg of Bosnia’s World Cup play-off against Portugal earlier this month."

The Mail on Sunday quote a “source” who claims: "He will be leaving Lyon in the summer and it looks like Chelsea will be his new club."

Speculation in the Sunday paper claims Chelsea would be prepared to sign Pjanic in January and loan him back until the summer.

Pjanic, 21, has come to the fore this season for Lyon replacing Brazilian playmaker Juninho. This season he has scored five goals and provided two assists in 21 appearances.