Chelsea have offered £26.8m for Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes, according to the Evening Standard.

The Blues had been weighing up deals for both the Argentinian international and Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella, but it appears that Paredes is the player that the club have decided to go for.

The main reason appears to be Barella’s reluctance to leave Cagliari during the January transfer window, as well as the fact that Paredes is available for much less than the Italian. Reports have suggested that Barella would cost £45m.

Paredes has reportedly indicated that he wants to leave Zenit, although he apparently wanted a move back home to play for former club Boca Juniors.

However, a move to the Premier League to play for Chelsea may make the 24-year-old reconsider his future plans.

Paredes is a holding midfielder and has scored four goals and provided four assists in 22 appearances for Zenit so far this campaign.