Express Sport understands maxbet that the Italian is a high priority on the shopping list of incoming manager Maurizio Sarri, who is set to replace Antonio Conte in the coming weeks.
And it is claimed by TV channel SportItalia that the Blues will look to bring in the defender with an offer in the region of €35million (£30.7m).
The highly-rated 23-year-old is already thought to have been offered, and agreed, a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge that would net him around €3.5m (£3m) a season - equivalent to just over £50,000-a-week.
Sarri had tried to sign Rugani from Juventus while at Napoli, having worked with the Italy international as a loanee in two seasons at Empoli in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Rugani, also linked with Arsenal earlier this month, has since broken into the Juve first-team since then but is not a week-in, week-out regular and only played in 22 of their 38 league games last term.
But it is thought he would be handed a more important role in London and he has even agreed a contract in principle to reunite with Sarri.
The deal, however, is currently on hold as Chelsea wait to officially sack Conte and appoint Sarri as his successor.
The 59-year-old is expected to be appointed in the coming weeks with Chelsea’s plans to undergo managerial changes having been heavily delayed due to disagreements over compensation with Napoli.
Sarri left the Serie A side last month following the end of their league campaign, in which they finished maxbet second to Juve, and has since been replaced by Carlo Ancelotti.
But Napoli are adamant that they are due compensation if Chelsea name Sarri as their new tactician because he is under contract until 2020, with the manager’s lawyers said to be arguing otherwise.
Express Sport have revealed that the new Chelsea man also wants to raid former club Napoli for forward Dries Mertens and right-back Elseid Hysaj.
Midfield duo Matias Vecino, of Inter Milan, and Nice’s Jean Michael Seri are also on his shortlist as he looks to rejuvenate a team that finished fifth - outside of the Champions League qualification places - last term, despite winning the FA Cup.
Rugani’s arrival seemingly spells bad news for the likes of David Luiz and Gary Cahill, whose futures at the club are uncertain. maxbet
