CHELSEA could make CSKA Moscow striker Fedor Chalov their first January signing if their transfer ban is lifted.
The Blues were unable to sign any players in the summer after they were found guilty of breaching 150 rules involving 71 players.
Fedor Chalov has scored 30 goals in 86 appearances for CSKA Moscow since joining in 2016Credit: AP:Associated Press
But they are appealing the decision by Fifa and will find out in mid-December whether they can look to sign a striker in the January window.
The West London club have been linked with a number of strikers, including Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson, since rumours began surfacing that Olivier Giroud may be heading for the exit door.
Giroud, 33, has started just two games for Frank Lampard this season as Tammy Abraham has been favoured as the main focal point of their attack.
As a result, the French World Cup winner wants to leave Stamford Bridge and link up with Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace.
Sky Sports claim the door could be open for Chalov to fill the boots of Giroud for the Europa League winners.
The Russian, who joined CSKA three years ago, is an exciting prospect who has recently caught the eye of many of Europe’s top clubs after finishing top scorer in the Russian Premier League last season with 15.
As well as his prolific goal scoring abilities, the 21-year-old also assisted a further seven times in the last campaign.
It is this impressive all-round game which has seen him attract interest from Bundesliga clubs such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
Premier League giants Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are also keen.
The stumbling block Lampard will face is that Chalov signed a new deal with CSKA earlier this year which runs until the summer of 2022, so it would take a large bid to steal him away.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
