Chelsea Set to Pip United to £30m-rated Frenchman - Report

Chelsea have reportedly moved ahead of Manchester United in the race for Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala.

The Red Devils have been heavily linked with a summer approach for the Frenchman but, according to the Mirror, the Blues have now stolen a march on their rivals by strengthening their pursuit of the 22-year-old, with new United boss David Moyes away on holiday.

The report claims Jose Mourinho, who has been tracking Mangala for some time now, wishes to bring the centre-back to Chelsea, in order to provide competition to John Terry, Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic.

Mangala, who arrived from Standard Liege for €6.5m in 2011, made 23 league appearances and netted four times for Porto last season, helping them clinch the Primeira Liga. The Portuguese club reportedly wants around £30m for the player, though Chelsea are only willing to shell out £23m for his services.

The Mirror also suggests Mourinho is considering a move for Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Marco van Ginkel.

The 20-year-old notched eight goals and 10 assists from 33 Eredivisie appearances last season and was voted Dutch Young Player Of The Year. The player has been a first team regular for Vitesse for the last three seasons and is valued at around £15m.

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Norwich City and Ajax are also understood to be chasing van Ginkel.

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane believes Mourinho's return to Chelsea is a good move for both parties, since they enjoy a special relationship.

The Portuguese tactician was confirmed as the new Blues boss last week and Zidane feels the former Los Blancos coach did the right thing by coming back to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

"Jose still has confidence and I am sure he will do well. Of course he has a ­special relationship with Chelsea and maybe he will feel more at home there than he did in Madrid. He has proved he is a coach full of quality - and I expect him to be very successful with Chelsea again," the French legend pointed out.