Chelsea will make a move for Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho if they are allowed to sign players this summer, claims The Daily Mirror.
Chelsea are resigned to losing Eden Hazard after the Belgium international confirmed his intentions to join Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Hazard only has 12 months left to run on his current Chelsea deal and the Blues are negotiating his departure to Real Madrid.
Madrid are expected to pay in excess of £100m for the 28-year-old and Chelsea will use that money to sign his replacement if they are allowed.
Chelsea have been hit with a FIFA-imposed transfer ban but are taking their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to delay it this summer.
If they are successful then Chelsea will look to prise Coutinho away from Barcelona.
The former Liverpool ace has been a huge disappointment since completing a stunning £142m move to Barcelona 18 months ago.
Barcelona are looking to offload Coutinho to fund their summer spending spree but have so far struggled for suitors.
Ernesto Valverde’s side accept they will have to take a big hit on Coutinho in order to sell him and Chelsea are monitoring his future.
Coutinho finished the 2018/19 campaign with just five goals and two assists in 34 league appearances and a WhoScored rating of 6.93.
