Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Reportedly Close to Locking Up Edinson Cavani

Chelsea have been one of the busiest world football clubs in the summer transfer window after the signing of Jose Mourinho, and it's only heated up with their courting of Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguayan striker has agreed to personal terms with Chelsea, according to Ed Malyon of the Mirror. All that's left to do now is to agree on a transfer fee with Napoli so he can head to Stamford Bridge. 

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However, the Blues STILL haven't met the player's £54million release clause - and Napoli are firm in their stance that they won't sell the Uruguayan forward for a penny less.

Outspoken Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has been vocal about Cavani's future throughout this saga - and maintains that Manchester City are the only club to have contacted him about the reigning capocannoniere.

City refused to fork out the full fee for the striker though, leaving Chelsea and Real Madrid as the principal interested parties and Manchester United looking on with intrigue.

The player had requested "face-to-face talks" with De Laurentiis, but the President declined, stating that unless the clause was activated by an official bid then the club wouldn't be selling and there was therefore nothing to talk about.

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Sealing the deal could prove to be much easier said than done for the Chelsea brass.

The Blues' latest offer to Napoli was in the tune of £45 million, according to Rob Draper of Daily Mail. But that doesn't come close to matching the £52 million buyout clause in Cavani's contract. 

Napoli haven't given up on their striker, apparently, as players continue to try to talk the talented striker into staying put with the Serie A squad according to Goal.com. 

Cavani has been a hot topic on the transfer market for some time, and has been linked to Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea as of late. His family has been playing a part in the rumors swirling lately, according to Kevin Palmer of ESPN FC. 

There is unquestionably a lot of mutual interest between Cavani and Chelsea, as both sides want to make this move a reality. 

Cavani seems to be in Jose Mourinho's plans of filling his starting XI after saying only five players on his roster are sure-fire starters, per the Mirror, but it could prove to be difficult to afford such a steep asking price from Napoli if they have that many spots to fill in the transfer window.

With no shortage of top-rated players available in this offseason, it would be a major statement for Chelsea to secure one of the most highly touted strikers out there in Cavani. But it could also be a roadblock in making more big deals throughout the summer.

If Chelsea's future with Fernando Torres is coming close to ending, the Blues should act desperately to find a new-age striker who will be able to produce at a consistent level throughout an entire league season. Cavani seems to be just that. 

Cavani has shown that the interest is there between him and the Blues; now all that's left to do is for both clubs to hammer out a transfer fee, a feat that seems much easier said than done.