Chelsea close to deal for Serbian teenager Danilo Pantic

Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign 18-year-old Serbian midfielder Danilo Pantic.

While Jose Mourinho has ruled out the possibility of additions to his first team, the club are on the verge of securing another young talent who will likely become the latest player to leave the club on loan.

Reports in the Serbian media suggest the Partizan Belgrade youngster will join the Blues in January before linking up with Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem on loan until the end of the season.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Pantic revealed the two clubs remain in discussions over a transfer fee.

"I talked to agents and they told me there is an official offer. There are still the two clubs to agree compensation," he said.

"I am very happy and excited because this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. The idea is to first join Vitesse in the Netherlands and then fight for a place at Stamford Bridge."

Serbian newspaper Vecernje Novosti go onto suggest a fee has already been agreed between the Blues and Partizan for Pantic, whose contract expires in the summer.

Pantic, a Serbian under-21 international, made his debut for the club at the age of 16 and played the full 90 minutes in his side's home clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.

Should Pantic join Vitesse following the conclusion of the deal with Chelsea, he will link up with fellow Blues prospects Wallace, Bertrand Traore, and Josh McEachran, who joined the Dutch club on loan this season.

Lucas Piazon, Christian Atsu, Cristian Cuevas and Gael Kakuta are among the other Chelsea youngsters to have been dispatched to Vitesse in order to gain first team opportunities in the past.

Chelsea secured the services of another eastern European youngster in the summer when they struck a deal to sign Mario Pasalic. The 19-year-old Croatian arrived at the club for a reported fee of £3m before joining La Liga side Elche on loan.