Erling Haaland appears to be off the table, so how about Karim Benzema?
Chelsea's chances of landing Borussia Dortmund superstar Haaland this summer appear to have taken a significant blow with BILD reporting the Norwegian wants to join an 'absolutely top club' this summer if he is to move on.
According to the report, that rules out Chelsea, likely leaving Bayern Munich, Manchester United and, perhaps crucially, Real Madrid as favourites.
That three-way tussle - which could yet involve even more clubs - is set to dominate the summer transfer window, but if Real Madrid do win the race, Chelsea's next move should be obvious.
If Haaland does wind up in the Spanish capital, Chelsea should make a move for Benzema, who would almost certainly be replaced should Real Madrid get their hands on Norway's most expensive export, after gas and oil, of course.
Benzema is now 33 years of age and he should be entering the final years of his career, but the Frenchman is not showing signs of slowing down.
After scoring 21 La Liga goals in each of his last two seasons, Benzema is on 12 goals for this campaign and on course to reach around 20 goals again in the league alone, also scoring four times in the Champions League and once in the Copa del Rey so far this season.
And that's with Real Madrid below their usual standards, looking up at leaders Atletico Madrid in La Liga, so it's clear Benzema still has plenty to offer, and as his fellow countryman Olivier Giroud has shown at Chelsea this season, age is just a number, especially in modern football.
Giroud has scored 11 times in 23 appearances so far this season, starting many of those games from the bench, but Chelsea do have a decision to make over the 34-year-old this summer.
The former Arsenal striker is out of contract and will likely want to see more regular game time if he is to renew his deal.
But while Thomas Tuchel is fond of Giroud, if the option of replacing him with Benzema comes across his desk, it's an option he simply has to take up.
The Real Madrid star is a year younger and has proven himself to be a class above Giroud during his 12 years at the Santiago Bernabeu, becoming a serial winner.
And what's more, it's likely he would not cost a great deal with only one year remaining on his current deal after this season.
That could provide Chelsea with the option of signing Benzema as a stop-gap for next season, and a very good one at that, while biding their time, saving their money and getting into a prime position for whatever superstar striker becomes available in 2022...dare I mention Kylian Mbappe.
Benzema would be a clear upgrade on what Chelsea already have and a fine alternative to Haaland in the short-term, and that's why the Blues have to consider a move if Haaland does end up at Real Madrid.
Though, if he doesn't, admittedly, the Blues will have to look elsewhere with Los Blancos extremely unlikely to give up their veteran frontman unless they sign a superstar striker this summer.
