Chelsea are weighing up an offer for Inter right-back Denzel Dumfries, according to reports.
The Blues were linked with the Netherlands international over the summer but were ultimately unable to agree a deal with the Italian giants.
They are thought to retain an interest in Dumfries, though, and are considering submitting a bid when the transfer market reopens for business in January.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Chelsea could go back in for Dumfries in the winter window as Graham Potter seeks to bolster the squad he inherited from Thomas Tuchel earlier this month.
The Italian outlet writes that the west Londoners are willing to pay £44.5m to sign the 26-year-old, who can also play as a wing-back.
Chelsea are wary that other teams could enter the race for Dumfries, so they are keen to agree terms in advance of January.
And in a bid to sweeten the deal, Chelsea have told Inter they would be willing to loan the defender back to his current employers for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.
But despite the interest in him Dumfries insists he is fully focused on the Nerazzurri for now.
"The interest flatters me, of course," he told Dutch publication De Telegraaf. "But my focus now is only on Inter. We want to win the Scudetto because we lost it last season."
Dumfries' ability to play as both a conventional full-back and a more attack-minded wing-back no doubt appeals to Potter, who routinely switched formations while in charge of Brighton.
The new Chelsea manager will demand similar flexibility at Stamford Bridge, and he will also be mindful that club captain and right-back Cesar Azpilicueta turns 34 next year.
Potter will take charge of his first Premier League game as Chelsea boss against Crystal Palace on Saturday
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