Chelsea are enjoying a fine start to the season despite some initial hiccups, now on a run of 13 games unbeaten and sitting third in the table, just two points behind Spurs and Liverpool.
The Blues have the chance to leapfrog the former when the two London clubs face off in a mouth-watering clash on Sunday, and a win in that one would cap an excellent start to the campaign for the Blues, who also booked their place in the Champions League knockout stage earlier this week.
But Frank Lampard will still want to see his men improve as the season goes on, and to achieve that, he might need to dip into the transfer market in January and add to the huge spending bill he and Chelsea racked up in the summer.
Though, today's rumours focus on who Chelsea could sign in the summer with some early talk of free transfer to Stamford Bridge. We kick off today's rumours with David Alaba.
Agent plans Chelsea talks over Alaba
Chelsea are being touted as a possible destination for Bayern Munich star Alaba.
According to Sport Bild, the player's agent, Pini Zahavi, is keen for his client to move to Stamford Bridge, planning talks with the Blues.
Alaba has resisted talks over new contract at Bayern, keen on a new contract, and that he's lead the Bundesliga club to withdraw their contract offer, according to reports.
It's not suggested the Alaba could join Chelsea next summer when his contract expires, much like fellow defender Thiago Silva did last summer when he left PSG.
Chelsea will be free to talk to Alaba in January.
Chelsea 'in the equation' for Messi
Chelsea may not stop at Alaba when it comes to free shopping with Lionel Messi tipped for a move to Stamford Bridge next summer.
According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, the Blues would be in the hunt for the Barcelona superstar should he become available in the summer as expected.
Messi had a row with Barca over his contract in the summer amid links with Manchester City, eventually deciding to stay and honour the final year of his deal.
But next season he is out of contract and Ballague believes Chelsea could be in with a shout of winning the race.
"Chelsea are definitely in the equation if Messi becomes available. That is true,” he said on his YouTube channel.
"Chelsea will insist they want to hear everything that is going on.
"If they have the money they will want to be involved too. Remember, there is no transfer fee."
Thiago Silva update
Reports earlier this week suggested Thiago Silva is already looking to extend his one-year deal at Chelsea following a bright start to the season.
It was believed Chelsea had an option in Silva's contract to extend the deal and that is the case, according to Frank Lampard who confirmed as much in his press conference on Friday.
"I have seen the reports and there is an option in Thiago’s contract that we can look at as the season goes on.
"With the way he is playing at the minute, we are very happy. That is the end of it really, I am surprised it has come out in that way.
He added: "There is an option in his contract, yes."
