Chelsea are plotting a sensational swoop for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao following their disappointment over a move for Raphinha.
The Blues have been left high and dry by the Leeds United winger, after it seemed that they had snatched a deal away from London rivals Arsenal, only to see Barcelona in turn snatch the Brazilian from Thomas Tuchel's side, with a deal expected soon.
As a result, Chelsea have been forced to pivot to alternatives, and Rafael Leao is alongside Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry at the top of their list, according to the London Evening Standard.
A deal for Gnabry may prove tricky due to his former Arsenal connections, which has reportedly seen him turn down negotiations with the Blues despite only having a year left on his deal, leaving Leao as the current front-running option.
Is a deal possible?
The Portuguese winger is coming off a fantastic season, in which he grabbed 11 goals and 10 assists as he helped AC Milan to the Serie A title, so would not come cheap.
He currently has a release clause set at £127m, with his current side trying to tie him down to a new deal that would eliminate that option for departure.
However, Chelsea are thought to be keen to use Milan's interest in Hakim Ziyech to explore a possible deal for the 23-year-old. Whether or not it would be enough to tempt the San Siro side into selling is unclear, and it would still likely take a massive bid to even bring them to the table.