Chelsea are now odds-on to sign Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer with him ready to ask the Bundesliga club for a transfer.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder was already being linked with a host of top European clubs when football was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And that speculation has only intensified since the resumption, with Havertz scoring 12 goals in last 17 games.
Kai Havertz - Club After Summer Transfer Window Betting Odds
- Chelsea - 4/9
- Not to join another club - 10/3
- Bayern Munich - 11/2
- Liverpool, Newcastle - 20/1
- Man City, Real Madrid, Juventus - 25/1
Chelsea are thought to be facing competition from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
But Bayern, who operate a sustainable business model, have spent big to sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City and the top Spanish clubs are expected to struggle financially as a result of the pandemic.
The Blues however have shown that they are not scared to spend, having dished out £90m to bring in Havertz's Germany team-mate Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.
Following several years of more prudent ownership, Roman Abramovich appears keen to put his billions to good use and help Frank Lampard close the gap to the Premier League's two outstanding sides, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Chelsea's squad remodeling under Lampard could yet also include summer moves for Declan Rice and Ben Chilwell.
West Ham's England star Rice came through the Chelsea academy before switching to the Hammers, and the west Londoners are now understood to be intent on bringing him back to Stamford Bridge.
The versatile Rice would most likely be favoured as a centre-back should he return to the Blues, despite his prowess in defensive midfield.
Lampard has also long admired Leicester's England left-back Chilwell, but this again would be another transfer to command a sizeable fee.
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