Chelsea may have found a tailor-made replacement for Didier Drogba.
The African star's future at Stamford Bridge has been thrown into doubt after rumours of a meeting with representatives from Inter Milan, but your favourite local paper understands Jimmy Briand might be waiting in the wings.
The Rennais striker is understood to have caught the eye of Chelsea's scouts, and the club is believed to be ready to pitch an offer of as much as £15million for the 23-year-old in January.
Briand has been the inspiration behind his club Stade Rennais' climb up the French Ligue 1, with his goals taking them on a run of 13 games without defeat. If the winning form continues, Rennais could qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Paris St Germain had been chasing the French international, who has been compared to Thierry Henry, but his frequent scoring has pushed his price-tag out of their range.
"We agreed a price of 10m euro for Briand," said
PSG owner Charles Villeneuve, "but two days later (Rennais) came back and said the price was 12m euro.
"I said okay, but then it became 14m euro, and I did not know where it would end.
"The only French team that could sign him now is Lyon, although I think Manchester United or Chelsea would be better for him."
Briand knows Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech, who played in the same youth side as him at Rennes.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are without the suspended
Drogba for Sunday's visit of Arsenal.
