According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea want Zenit man Leanardo Paredes, who the Russian outfit rate around the £36 million mark. It seems as though the Blues are edging closer to a move for the midfielder as they look to find a replacement for Cesc Fabregas, and make no mistake, Paredes would be a good choice.

However, it's hard to view him as the ideal option, especially given the fine form of Cagliari man Nicolo Barella.

Barella is another player that Chelsea have been linked with as of late, as per Matteo Pedrosi‏, but it seems as though Paredes has emerged as the leading candidate - and it's tough to see why.

After all, Barella is quickly emerging as one of the finest players in Serie A. Despite being just 21-years-old, he's a regular in the Italian top flight, and with good reason.

Barella is a direct, combative midfielder with bags of energy and drive who is always looking to move the ball forward and make something happen. Given that he's just 1.75m (5ft7) tall, he's not the most accomplished in the air, whilst his overall physical presence could do with some work, but in terms of raw technical attributes, he'd be a fantastic option for the Blues. Of course, Chelsea are looking to replace Cesc Fabregas, and Barella's brilliant technical ability, including his range of passing, would mean that he's a fine choice for this task.

Perhaps the Italian would cost a bit more, but the best players come at a premium, and if Chelsea want to find a genuine upgrade on Fabregas, he'd be a great choice. Not to mention, at just 21-years-old, he's one for the present and future, too.

He may need convincing, but Barella would be an ideal fit in place of Cesc Fabregas.

Thoughts?