Lazar quest

CHELSEA are closing in on the £6million signing of Serbia’s teenage star Lazar Markovic.

The 19-year-old Partizan Belgrade striker is expected to ignore interest from Inter Milan and Liverpool to join the Blues this summer.
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is playing his part, urging his fellow countryman to join him at Stamford Bridge.

And former boss Avram Grant, who was Partizan’s boss last year, has also recommended the move to SW6.

Markovic is fast, direct and normally plays as a second striker.

But like Romelu Lukaku last year, it is expected he will be loaned out to continue his development.

Winger Kevin de Bruyne, 21, will find out whether he has a future at Chelsea next week.
The Belgian is wanted by both Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund after starring on loan for Werder Bremen.