Frank Lampard is interested in signing Atalanta star Ruslan Malinovskyi after a recommendation from Claude Makelele, according to reports.
Malinovskyi has impressed in Serie A this season and Makelele has personally scouted the 26-year-old.
Chelsea are drawing up their transfer targets for when their ban expires, which could be in January, and the Express claim Malinovskyi has been added to the list.
Makelele, a former Blue himself, has been scouting for Lampard this season and watched Malinovskyi in action on international duty for Ukraine last week.
And after returning a glowing report on Malinovskyi, Chelsea have been convinced to go after the playmaker.
Chelsea will continue to keep tabs on Malinovskyi and track his performances for Atalanta.
The Serie A side are in no hurry to cash in on Malinovskyi as he is under contract with the club until 2024.
The Blues are hoping their transfer ban will be lifted in January, but are currently barred from signing any new players until next summer.
Lampard is yet to sign a single player as Chelsea boss and has placed his faith in the club’s youth academy.
Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount stepped up from youth level and are now established regulars in Lampard’s side.
Chelsea made a winning return from the international break on Saturday, beating Newcastle 1-0 to rise up to fourth in the Premier League table.
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