Chelsea are reportedly considering a move for on-loan Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho next summer.
The Brazilian playmaker is spending the 2019-20 campaign with Bayern Munich, but the German giants have no obligation to sign him at the end of the season.
Bayern had a similar arrangement with James Rodriguez, who returned to Real Madrid after two years in Munich, and should they decide against making the Coutinho move permanent then Chelsea could revive their interest.
Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona would be keen to sell the former Liverpool man in an attempt to raise funds for Neymar, who has been heavily linked with a return to Camp Nou.
The Spanish champions are thought to be holding out for a bid of more than €100m (£85.4m), which is a price Chelsea would consider paying after identifying Coutinho as a possible replacement for Eden Hazard.
The Blues are able to buy players again from next month after seeing their transfer embargo reduced, and manager Frank Lampard is rumoured to have a £150m kitty at his disposal.
Barney Corkhill
