Chelsea 'employ agent to make contact with Nabil Fekir'

Chelsea have reportedly ramped up their interest in Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir by appointing super-agent Pini Zahavi to negotiate a deal.

The 25-year-old is expected to be sold by the Ligue 1 club in January as talks over a new deal have stalled in recent weeks.

Fekir saw a move to Liverpool collapse in the summer, despite a deal initially being agreed between the two clubs, and Chelsea have since emerged as the favourites to sign him.

French publication L'Equipe claims that the Blues have sent Zahavi to begin talks over a transfer, with the hope of an agreement being reached before the January transfer window closes.

World Cup-winning attacker Fekir has six goals and four assists from 16 Champions League and Ligue 1 outings this season.