Last Updated: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:23
Chelsea have made a £3.5million bid for Jack Butland but the Birmingham keeper will turn down a move as he wants first-team football.
The 19-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in English football and Chelsea are keen to steal a march on their rivals by wrapping up a deal before tomorrow's 11pm deadline.
Despite plenty of interest from the likes of Fulham, Southampton and Liverpool, Chelsea are the only club to have made a bid but the player's agent Gary Mellor says his client could be willing to move to Stamford Bridge.
Butland is unwilling to play second fiddle to Petr Cech at this stage in his career as he fears it could hamper his development.
"Jack's enjoying playing for Birmingham and he is gaining valuable experience," Mellor revealed. "He will listen to what any club that meets Birmingham's asking price has to say, but playing is of paramount importance for Jack.
"At this moment they (Chelsea) are the only club who have registered a bid."
Chelsea already have one hot young prospect on their books in the form of 20-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico Madrid, but that is not stopping their pursuit of Butland.
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