Chelsea could turn their search for a new striker towards Ajax‘s David Neres with Luka Jovic poised to sign for Real Madrid.
The Blues had been closely tailing Eintracht Frankfurt hitman Jovic, but the 21-year-old Serbia striker should shortly finalise his Madrid move.
Chelsea remain hopeful of having their two-window FIFA transfer ban frozen while appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), so are pushing ahead with tentative recruitment plans.
And Stamford Bridge bosses are understood to favour a move for Brazil star Neres now that Jovic appears out of reach.
Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Arsenal are all also eyeing a move for £40million-rated Neres, who has impressed amid Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals and the Eredivisie title.
1/35 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix
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2/35 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG
At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club
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3/35 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid
The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side
Getty
4/35 David Luiz – Chelsea
The Brazilian defender could see him future elsewhere
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5/35 Juan Mata – Manchester United
The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams
REUTERS
6/35 Vincent Kompany – Manchester City
The legendary City defender has a decision to make at the end of the sesaon
AP
7/35 Olivier Giroud – Chelsea
Not the greatest goal scorer at the moment but remains a quality player
AFP/Getty
8/35 Dani Alves – PSG
Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation?
AFP/Getty Images
9/35 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United
Getty
10/35 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer
Getty
11/35 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal
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12/35 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool
The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side
Getty
13/35 Gary Cahill – Chelsea
The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career
AP
14/35 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid
The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game
Getty
15/35 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham
When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League
REUTERS
16/35 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him?
Getty
17/35 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal
The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury
Getty
18/35 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus
There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won
Getty Images
19/35 Adrien Rabiot – PSG
The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe
Getty
20/35 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu
The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019
Getty
21/35 Ashley Young – Manchester United
The defender has enjoyed a revival that has seen him return to the England squad
Getty
22/35 Ander Herrera – Manchester United
Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera?
PA
23/35 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season
Getty
24/35 Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side
25/35 Michel Vorm – Tottenham
The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side
Getty Images
26/35 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal
The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while
Arsenal FC via Getty
27/35 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle
Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder
Getty Images
28/35 Wes Morgan – Leicester
He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something
Getty Images
29/35 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg
Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined
Getty
30/35 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham
Getty
31/35 Willy Caballero – Chelsea
The experienced goalkeeper endured a tricky World Cup but remains a solid back-up
Getty
32/35 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal
The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him
PA
33/35 Yacine Brahimi – Porto
Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger
Getty
34/35 James Milner – Liverpool
The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides
Action Images via Reuters
35/35 David Ospina – Napoli
The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option
REUTERS
1/35 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix
Getty Images
2/35 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG
At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club
Getty
3/35 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid
The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side
Getty
4/35 David Luiz – Chelsea
The Brazilian defender could see him future elsewhere
Getty
5/35 Juan Mata – Manchester United
The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams
REUTERS
6/35 Vincent Kompany – Manchester City
The legendary City defender has a decision to make at the end of the sesaon
AP
7/35 Olivier Giroud – Chelsea
Not the greatest goal scorer at the moment but remains a quality player
AFP/Getty
8/35 Dani Alves – PSG
Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation?
AFP/Getty Images
9/35 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United
Getty
10/35 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer
Getty
11/35 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal
Getty Images
12/35 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool
The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side
Getty
13/35 Gary Cahill – Chelsea
The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career
AP
14/35 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid
The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game
Getty
15/35 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham
When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League
REUTERS
16/35 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him?
Getty
17/35 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal
The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury
Getty
18/35 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus
There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won
Getty Images
19/35 Adrien Rabiot – PSG
The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe
Getty
20/35 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu
The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019
Getty
21/35 Ashley Young – Manchester United
The defender has enjoyed a revival that has seen him return to the England squad
Getty
22/35 Ander Herrera – Manchester United
Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera?
PA
23/35 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season
Getty
24/35 Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side
25/35 Michel Vorm – Tottenham
The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side
Getty Images
26/35 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal
The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while
Arsenal FC via Getty
27/35 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle
Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder
Getty Images
28/35 Wes Morgan – Leicester
He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something
Getty Images
29/35 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg
Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined
Getty
30/35 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham
Getty
31/35 Willy Caballero – Chelsea
The experienced goalkeeper endured a tricky World Cup but remains a solid back-up
Getty
32/35 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal
The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him
PA
33/35 Yacine Brahimi – Porto
Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger
Getty
34/35 James Milner – Liverpool
The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides
Action Images via Reuters
35/35 David Ospina – Napoli
The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option
REUTERS
The 22-year-old hit 10 goals in 42 matches in Ajax’s fine campaign, catching the attention of a clutch of top clubs when scoring in the 4-1 Champions League win at Real Madrid in March.
Chelsea enjoy a positive relationship with Neres’ agents Giuliano Bertolucci and Kia Joorabchian, with the pair representing Blues defender David Luiz.
Gonzalo Higuain would likely return to parent club Juventus should Chelsea recruit a new forward, with the Blues then not extending the ex-Argentina striker’s time at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are still expected to trigger the one-year extension in Olivier Giroud’s contract to keep him in west London next season.
Winger Christian Pulisic will join the Blues this summer, with the USA star’s arrival to some extent offsetting Eden Hazard’s expected departure to Real Madrid.
Striker Tammy Abraham, midfielder Mason Mount and right-back Reece James head the queue of Chelsea stars returning from loans pushing for first-team chances next term.
One Blues forward not keen to return is Atletico Madrid loan man Alvaro Morata.
“What is clear is what I want, I want to be here,” Morata told Marca.
“I’m going to do all I can to keep playing here, I did all I could to come and I will do all I can to stay.
“I’m not thinking about going back anywhere, only being here.
“I’m happy here and I want to be here for the years I have left at the top level.”
Morata also backed Hazard to shine anywhere in the world, as the Belgium talisman closes in on a move to Real.
“He’s one of the best players in the world and could fit in well in any team,” said Morata.
“He’s a top player and top person, he’d fit in at any team.”
