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Chelsea are plotting a £10million raid to make Roma star Daniele de Rossi their new midfield general.

Returning Blues manager Jose Mourinho is seeking to reinforce the engine room of the side he has inherited from Rafa Benitez, with John Obi Mikel's Stamford Bridge future now in grave doubt.

And the Chelsea boss is set to try to take advantage of de Rossi's fall-out with his boyhood club to lure the Italy ace to the Premier League.

De Rossi has been labelled Roma's "future captain" for most of the past decade, but fell foul of former boss Zdenek Zeman last season before the Czech was sacked.

The Stadio Olimpico fans also turned on de Rossi, who turns 30 this month, leaving the defensive midfielder increasingly disaffected.

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Mourinho tried to buy de Rossi during his spells in charge of Inter Milan and Real Madrid, while Manchester City were desperate to sign him during Roberto Mancini's reign.

Now, after Roma president James Pallotta confirmed "everybody is on the market" following the club's failure to qualify for either of the new season's European competitions, the Special One could finally get his man.

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini is even due in London next week to discuss a potential loan deal for Chelsea's Brazilian right-back Wallace, who was recruited from Fluminense in January.

The Blues will use the opportunity to push for a deal on de Rossi, and while Roma insisted the opening figure of £8.5m was not enough, it seems the Serie A club will settle for a cut-price deal and let him go.

(Image: Reuters)

Mourinho, whose central midfield options are limited even if Mikel - a target for Turkey's Galatasaray - doesn't move, would be boosted by the arrival of de Rossi, but it seems his hopes of landing Edinson Cavani are receding.

French champions Paris Saint-Germain have stolen a march, after signalling they are ready to meet Napoli's full £53m asking price for Uruguay striker Cavani.

New PSG coach Laurent Blanc said: "Cavani is a player I love, like everyone. I have seen him play several times for Napoli and Uruguay. If he were to join the PSG squad, I would be very happy."

Jean-Claude Blanc, the director general of PSG, said sporting director Leonardo was not at the press conference because he was "negotiating with a big player", with the club hinting that Cavani was the man in question.

As we revealed last week, Mourinho will turn his sights to Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski if Cavini eludes his grasp.