News emerged this week that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is likely to have to sell to help raise funds to sign a big-name centre-forward. And now, after seeing this as an opportunity to get their man, League 1 champions PSG have stepped up their chase for Oscar.

English newspaper Daily Mirror has reported today that the French giants are ready to offer Chelsea the chance to cash in on Brazilian playmaker Oscar. In the past also, PSG have been relentless in their pursuit of Oscar and are now stepping up their pursuit of their long-term target.

Oscar has three years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, where he has been a significant success, and is also set to be Brazil’s playmaker in this summer’s World Cup. It is understood PSG scouts have been watching him closely in recent weeks, although to accommodate him they would have to move on one of their non-EU players.

Jose Mourinho has demonstrated this season how highly he values Oscar, building his attacking triumvirate around him, Eden Hazard and Willian. and selling Juan Mata to Manchester United for £37.1 million in January. And of course, the Portuguese coach does not want to sell one of his top players, but it would help pay for a striker – and PSG would be willing to nearly double the £19m Chelsea paid for him two years ago.

Mourinho’s priority lies in reshaping his forward line in which all three of his strikers – Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba – could leave. Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, currently out with a knee injury, is keen on a switch to Chelsea and his advisers are putting out feelers. That could be one option, although Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa is also on their list.

However, if a deal is to be struck, it would take an offer of more than £40  million to have any hope that it would tempt Chelsea to enter into negotiations.