Chelsea are planning to put in a huge £75m January-bid for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez as a replacement forFar East-bound Oscar, according toreports.
The Blues will earn £62m from Oscar's switch toShanghai SIPG, all of which is expected to be spent on a world-class replacement.
And that replacement will likely be Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez, who has reportedly grown frustrated with the lack of game time at Madrid this season.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte tried to sign Rodriguez in the summer, only for Real to put the breaks on a potential deal at the final hurdle.
Los Blancos may still be reluctant to sell, as it would leave them without cover for the injured Gareth Bale, who is out until February.
Chelsea will use the money received from the outgoing Oscar to bid £75M for James Rodriguez. (Mirror) pic.twitter.com/BlpFQJQWAk
However, Zinedine Zidane's preference to play Lucas Vazquez has seen Rodriquez fall further down the pecking order, leaving the promise of first-team football at Chelsea a healthy proposition for the 25-year-old.
Madrid won't sell him for less than £75m, though, as that is the fee they paid to sign him from Monaco back in 2014.
The fee won't put off Chelsea, who will use money raised in Oscar's sale as well as another £13m to sign their longstandingtarget.
Chelsea recorded their 11th straight win to go nine points clearon Saturday after beating Crystal Palace, and with the potential arrival of James Rodriguez coming in January, their title-prospects look better than ever under Italian tactician Antonio Conte.