Chelsea are considering joining Arsenal and Liverpool in the race to sign Monaco star Thomas Lemar next month.
The Blues are looking to strengthen the squad when the window opens and Lemar could help provide competition at left wing back as well as in attack.
He was one of the players Chelsea admired when they scouted Monaco heavily last season, but midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko was their primary target and he joined for £40million in July.
Monaco were reluctant to lose too many of their prize assets though after selling Bernardo Silva to Manchester City for £42m earlier in the window.
Kylian Mbappe also completed a season-long loan to Paris St Germain in view of a permanent £166m permanent move next summer.
Arsenal still attempted to buy Lemar and Standard Sport reported that a bid worth £75m plus £17m in add-ons failed on deadline day because Lemar only wanted to join a club in the Champions League.
Monaco are believed to be prepared to listen to offers for the 21-year-old again as they finished bottom of their Champions League group and are nine points behind PSG in Ligue 1.
Monaco are expected to demand £80m for Lemar's signature, but Chelsea have an advantage in any possible negotiations as former technical director Michael Emenalo, who left Stamford Bridge last month, now has the same role at the Louis II Stadium.
Liverpool were also interested in the last transfer window, although their priority now is a centre-half.
