Chelsea are reportedly contemplating whether to make a formal approach for a Manchester City academy graduate before Monday's transfer deadline.
The Blues have, as it stands, surprisingly been inactive with regards to incomings during the winter window, instead focusing on trying to facilitate exits.
On Sunday morning, it was confirmed that Cesare Casadei had completed a move to Torino, reducing the midfield options in Enzo Maresca's squad.
While Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall remain available, another key man in Romeo Lavia is expected to remain on the sidelines until at least March.
As a result, Chelsea are said to be scouring the market assessing potential opportunities, particularly when more space is likely to be created with regards to their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations.
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Chelsea want to sign O'Reilly?
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who was commenting on X, Chelsea have made contact with their Man City counterparts regarding the potential availability of Nico O'Reilly.
The 19-year-old has been a positive impression on Pep Guardiola, being handed five appearances in the first team since the start of August.
As well as being provided with three starts in the Community Shield and EFL Cup, O'Reilly has also made his Premier League and Champions League debuts off the substitutes' bench.
However, O'Reilly has often remained as an unused substitute, despite the issues that City have had in the engine room, and it is up for debate how much football he will be granted during the second half of the campaign.
While it is claimed that City do not want to lose O'Reilly, it is unclear how long he has remaining on his City contract, there being some suggestions that it may expire in the summer.
Furthermore, it is yet to be determined whether O'Reilly sees his long-term future at City. Chelsea have already exploited a similar situation with Cole Palmer and helped turned the playmaker into a star.
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Would O'Reilly become member of Chelsea first team?
Unless Chelsea sign a more experienced player over the next 24 hours or so, O'Reilly would effectively become fourth-choice central midfielder at the West Londoners in the short term.
O'Reilly is in a similar place in the pecking order under Guardiola, yet it has become clear that he should not expect many minutes between now and the end of May.
If Chelsea are to put forward a proposal, City are highly likely to ask for a sell-on clause, as well as a potential buy-back option which Chelsea may not agree to.
Darren Plant
