Chelsea plan to beat Man Utd to £70m signing

Premier League leaders Chelsea have set their sights on signing Monaco's Bernardo Silva ahead of Manchester United and Manchester City.

The Portugal international has earned plaudits for his performances this season as Monaco compete for their first French title since the millennium.

According to The Times, the league toppers are lining up an approach for the highly-rated attacker as they seek to fight for the Champions League crown next term.

Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been credited with an interest for the 22-year-old footballer, and this has urged Monaco to place a hefty £70m price tag on the player's head.

Silva has stood out as the standout performer for the Principality outfit this season, and though, he has not scored on a regular basis, his intricate skills and vision on the pitch is something to be admired.

North London club Tottenham Hotspur are also said to hold an interest in the attacker, but they are unlikely to come close to the player's valuation.