Chelsea remain locked in talks to buy a stake in Ligue 1 club Strasbourg but face competition in their attempts to build a multi-club network.
The Blues see the Alsace outfit as a key opportunity that needs to be taken but face competition from an unnamed American buyer.
Strasbourg, currently placed 14th in the French top flight, would be utilised to send young talent for development while also offering Chelsea a foothold in a key market.
The deal would allow the Blues to sign young players from the European Union under their umbrella to avoid post-Brexit regulations, while the prospect of accessing the pool of youth talent in France is also attractive.
Chelsea have previously attempted to buy stakes in Lyon, Sochaux and Bordeaux but, on each occasion, their bids were rejected.
The Boehly-Clearlake regime want to buy clubs in Portugal, Belgium and Brazil to rival the likes of Manchester City who have set up similar networks.
Portimonense in Portugal and Santos in Brazil are among the sides that have also snubbed the west Londoners’ advances.
