Sevilla's Jules Kounde and Leicester City's Wesley Fofana are reportedly on Chelsea's centre-back shortlist ahead of this summer's transfer window.
The Blues are currently unable to sign players or negotiate new contracts with first-team stars due to the sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea announced last weekend that an agreement has been reached for a consortium led by Todd Boehly to take control of the club, and should the deal be finalised before the May 31 deadline, the West Londoners will be able to delve into the transfer market this summer.
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea chiefs Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech have identified both Kounde and Fofana as potential defensive targets this summer, the former of whom is believed to have been on their radar for some time.
Kounde, 23, has also been linked with the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United and is under contract at Sevilla until June 2024.
Twenty-one-year-old Fofana, meanwhile, has also been linked with a move away, despite signing a new five-year contract with Leicester two months ago, extending his stay at the King Power Stadium until June 2027.
Chelsea are expected to make defensive reinforcements this summer, with Antonio Rudiger allegedly edging closer to joining Real Madrid, while Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen will be out of contract next month.
Oliver Thomas
