Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Diego Costa, Top Rumours

Chelsea are prepared to offer Juventus superstar Paul Pogba a huge £300,000-per-week wage to join them as they look to beat the competition to the midfielder's signature.

Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star reported the reigning champions will battle Manchester City for the 22-year-old France international. Both teams are "confident" they can beat Barcelona and Real Madrid in the race for the £80 million-rated player as the Premier League's new TV deal commences next term, giving English clubs increased financial power over their Spanish counterparts. 

Chelsea believe "the lure of London" could be the deciding factor for Pogba after his previous association with Manchester United as a youth team player, per Hetherington. 

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (h/t Independent's Tom Sheen) claimed Chelsea watched Pogba during Juventus' Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, a 3-0 loss that saw the Old Lady advance on penalties.

Hetherington noted former Juve boss Antonio Conte is the favourite to be the next Blues coach, and his knowledge and experience with Pogba will surely aid any capture. Conte signed the player for the Turin club and developed him in the first team after his disappointing spell at United. 

United's loss was Conte's gain, and Pogba has quickly blossomed into one of the greatest young midfielders in world football.   

The player has featured 26 times in Serie A this season, scoring and assisting five times, according to WhoScored.com.

Here is a video displaying Pogba's key assets: 

Chelsea also have their eye on recruiting Edinson Cavani as a direct replacement for Diego Costa, according to reports.

French media outlet Le 10 Sport (h/t James Walters of the Daily Star) claimed the striker is ready to leave Paris Saint-Germain for the Premier League, and Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford is his likely destination. The report suggests Chelsea could be prepared to swap Costa for the Uruguayan superstar, as owner Roman Abramovich is "desperate" to purchase Cavani. 

The Sun (h/t Walters) also reported the player has "his heart set" on a switch to England after three years in the French capital. 

Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez said he is a fan of the deadly attacker:

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

However, the player's father has professed a preference his son joins United if he leaves PSG for English shores, according to Israeli TV station Sport 5 (h/t Metro's Tom Olver).

"Edinson is suffering at PSG," he said. "If they let him play as the No. 9 he will be happy. I would like to see him play for Real Madrid, Manchester United or Juventus."

Costa has recovered his form after the departure of Jose Mourinho from the Bridge, and it is debatable whether Cavani is an upgrade on the Brazil-born striker. 

Cavani certainly has the bombastic style appreciated in the Premier League, and his physical play would suit Chelsea's current tactics.

However, the installation of a new coach will once again change the face of the club as they attempt to recover from a terrible season, and Chelsea might have more pressing issues in other key positions rather than centre-forward.