Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo sees new signing Mario Pasalic as Frank Lampard's successor.
The London Evening Standard says Emenalo believes Pasalic has a big future at the club although the midfielder must go out on loan first.
The 19-year-old will have a medical next month before completing a £1.6million move from Hajduk Split, which was initially agreed in January.
Pasalic has been earmarked as a possible long-term replacement for veteran Lampard and boasts an impressive record in the Croatian first division with 11 goals in 25 games this season.
Emenalo was in the stadium to see the midfielder score the winning goal against RNK Split last weekend and said: "Mario has grown at Hajduk. In the summer he has to go to a club where he will continue to evolve in order to one day play at Stamford Bridge."
