Chelsea are interested in exploring a move for Viktor Gyokeres’ understudy at Sporting Lisbon, Conrad Harder, according to reports.
After an impressive start to the season, which saw them briefly mentioned as Premier League title contenders, Chelsea have fallen back into the chasing back withtwo wins in their last two games.
Despite a 2-1 win over West Ham, questions are still being asked about Enzo Maresca’s side, with the Blues lacking the same attacking fluency with which they started the season.
Nicolas Jackson has not scored a goal since mid-December, while the attacking trio of Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho have just three goals combined since the turn of the year.
The Blues opted against bringing in attacking reinforcements in January, instead letting versatile forward Joao Felix depart Stamford Bridge on loan to AC Milan.
However, the west London club are expected to head back into the transfer market in the summer as they hunt for attacking reinforcements to bolster Maresca’s squad.
A centre forward to compete with Jackson is likely to be a high priority, with talkSPORT reporting that Chelsea are interested in Sporting striker Harder.
The club have already sent scouts to Portugal to watch Harder who has started the last four games as Gyokeres continues his comeback from a minor injury.
19-year-old Harder has seen his minutes limited due to the form of Sporting’s talismanic Swede but has still managed to notch up 11 goals in all competitions this season.
And while Gyokeres is primed to attract a host of offers from top clubs this summer, Harder will also command a significant fee given that the forward has a €80m (£67m) release clause in his contract.
Harder is yet to be capped at senior international level for Denmark but has played twice for his country’s Under 21 side.
The youngster, who signed from Danish club Nordsjaelland last summer, has also been linked to Manchester United in a move that would see him reuinted with former boss Ruben Amorim.
Amorim has been linked with signing several players from his former club, with a seperate reports suggesting that United have already reached an agreement to sign Geovany Quenda at the end of the season.
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