Chelsea have reportedly identified Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres as a potential January transfer target.
When the Blues added Nicolas Jackson to their frontline during the summer, the hope had been that the Senegal international would prove to be a shrewd piece of business.
However, the former Villarreal man has been indifferent at best, contributing seven goals - three of those strikes coming versus Tottenham Hotspur - and one assist from 18 appearances in all competitions.
With Armando Broja only just being risked on a regular basis after recovering from a serious knee injury and Christopher Nkunku yet to make his debut, it has left the West Londoners lacking a ruthless streak in the final third.
A report earlier this week indicated that head coach Mauricio Pochettino was keen to add another striker - as well as a centre-back and central midfielder - to his squad in January.
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Whether that materialises is realistically dependent on Chelsea cashing in on a number of squad players in order to ensure that they remain on the right side of FFP.
Nevertheless, the under-performing Premier League outfit are continuing to be linked with major additions, and the latest player is someone who was playing in the Championship during 2022-23.
According to transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, posting on X, Chelsea have joined the race for Sporting forward Gyokeres ahead of business reopening at the turn of the year.
The Portuguese giants beat a wide array of clubs to sign the Sweden international from Coventry City for a fee in the region of €24m in the summer.
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Since leaving the East Midlands for Lisbon, the 25-year-old has contributed 11 goals and five assists in the Primeira Liga and Europa League from 16 starts.
That return has allegedly attracted admirers in the form of Arsenal, Newcastle United, Fulham and Inter Milan, who may be prepared to tempt Sporting into a quick substantial profit next month.
Realistically, though, with Gyokeres possessing a €100m (£86.1m) release clause and Sporting in a four-way title race, a transfer for January does not look plausible.
Chelsea's only genuine hope of changing that may be offering several players in part-exchange, a scenario which is unlikely, with Gyokeres also possessing a contract until 2028.
Darren Plant
