Chelsea will benefit from a full week off before they face London rivals West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.
With the Europa Conference League group phase having already concluded, Enzo Maresca’s side don’t return to action until they host the Hammers next week.
The Italian will be hoping to see his side end their dismal run of form, with the Blues having won just one of their last seven Premier League games.
In the meantime, though, those in charge of the club will be working hard as the January transfer window enters its final week.
With that in mind, it has emerged that the West London club are eyeing a move for a Bundesliga star.
Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims that Chelsea are set to resume talks over a potential deal for Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel.
The Frenchman has decided to leave Bayern this month, and the Blues have therefore reignited their interest in the player.
Tel has decided he wants to leave Bayern Munich this month
Previously, the Premier League side had been working on a swap deal for the 19-year-old that would have seen Christopher Nkunku move to Bavaria, but it remains to be seen whether or not that is still an option.
Plettenberg claims that the player’s representatives are considering loan moves – either with or without an option or obligation-to-buy clause – or permanent departures from Bavaria.
Tel joined Bayern from French side Rennes in 2022 and has since played 82 times for the club across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists.
The France Under-21 international’s contract with Bayern Munich is set to run until the end of the 2028/29 campaign, but it appears increasingly likely that he will depart the club before the end of this month’s window.
Plettenberg also claims that several teams – including French side Marseille – have shown interest in Tel, who can play on the left flank or as a central forward.