Chelsea's midfield rethink appears to have taken a new direction, with the club reportedly stepping back from a target also being tracked by Liverpool as they weigh up January options.
According to EPL Index, Chelsea are now focusing their attention on Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton as potential reinforcements for the middle of the park, rather than continuing to pursue the Liverpool-linked name.
The report suggests Chelsea's hierarchy are grappling with a familiar problem for elite squads with heavy spending power: identifying exactly who is needed to balance the midfield, even after years of recruitment. Scott and Wharton are said to represent the type of profile the Blues believe could add control and progression to their play.
Nothing is confirmed at this stage, and any move would likely depend on Bournemouth's and Palace's valuations, as well as Chelsea's broader squad planning heading into the new year. For now, this remains firmly in the realm of transfer speculation rather than an active negotiation.