Chelsea could potentially save up to £87million on Ousmane Dembele if the Thomas Tuchel favourite was to complete a move to the European Champions before the January deadline.
With only 11 days remaining of the transfer window, it looked as though things were petering out for the west Londoners, who were only looking to secure a left-wing-back replacement.
However, Dembele's recent issues at Barcelona have alerted many clubs across Europe of the potential that is now there to secure a player who once had a transfer value of £100m for a much reduced fee.
"We've talked and talked, made various offers. We've tried to find a way but these offers have been systematically rejected by his agents... it seems obvious he does not want to continue at Barca and is not committed to Barca's future project," Barca director Mateu Almeny said via AFP reporter Tom Allnutt.
"In this scenario he and his agents have been informed that he must leave immediately because we want players committed to this project and therefore we hope a transfer will take place before Jan 31."
Since these comments were issued, Chelsea appeared to have stolen a march on the Gunners to reunite Thomas Tuchel with a player he knows well from his Borussia Dortmund days.
According to Shay Lugassi of the BarcaTimes, via Simon Phillips, the Blues are one of three clubs to have made a significant offer to Moussa Sissoko for his client, including a large signing on fee.
Other reports have indicated that Marina Granovskaia and co. are preparing a £13m offer to test Barca's willingness to let Dembele go in the January transfer window.
But the key question is, will £13m be enough to prise the winger away from the Nou Camp despite his own reluctance to call it a day in Spain amid the current fallout?
If a compromise is to be made and the 24-year-old is to leave Barcelona, £18m could prove to be enough from the Blues to sign the France international, if the player's estimated current transfer worth - as per The CIES Football Observatory - is accurate.
An £18m outlay would represent an £87m loss on Barca's behalf, considering the £105m they splashed out to sign the then up and coming prospect from Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea would be keen to strike a deal for up to £18m - and maybe more - especially considering their attacking struggles as demonstrated against Manchester City and Brighton in the Premier League recently.
With Eden Hazard looking highly unlikely to complete a west London return this month, Dembele could be the alternative to help ease the 'tired' concerns Tuchel has with his current crop of players.
