Lille have listed three players ahead of the January transfer window sending Europe's leading sides into red alert, but Marina Granovskaia has already put Chelsea in the driving seat.
The Ligue 1 champions have opened the doors to the winter sales of Renato Sanches, Jonathan Ikone and Zeki Celik to combat the club's growing financial difficulties, according to French outlet Foot Mercato.
According to various reports, Eden Hazard's former side have labelled the trio with a cumulative price tag of £64.8 million; Sanches (£29.9m), Ikone (£21.4m), Celik (£13.5m) - however, Chelsea already face a handful of competition.
Not only are the Blues armed with the attractive title as European champions, like so in 2012, but Roman Abramovich's transfer chief is still equipped with the secret weapon that once prised the Belgian away from Lille.
Premier League title rivals, Liverpool, registered interest in the services of Sanches over the summer and were close to finalising a permanent deal, according to Portuguese transfer insider Pedro Almeida.
However, 90min reported that Wolves were also close to sealing a deal for the 24-year-old central midfielder a few months ago too; this time a season-long loan - neither report materialised.
Ikone, who had a £60 million price tag last summer according to LeFoot, sees his current deal at the French champions expire in 2023 and is being tracked by West Ham, Everton and AC Milan, as per Calciomercato.
Meanwhile, Celik is of the Toffees' interest as well, as per Le10Sport.
However, while no official reports confirm nor report Chelsea's interest in either of Lille's early Christmas gifts, the west London side's network of figureheads in football can come to Granovskaia's aid - just Joe Cole a few years ago.
Prior to Hazard's switch to Stamford Bridge, Cole - whom was a teammate of the Belgian's at the time - persuaded the then youngster to join Chelsea as opposed to Manchester United and Manchester City.
Speaking on BT Sport in 2019, Cole revealed: "It was at the time when we were playing together at Lille when Manchester United and Manchester City were courting him. Every big team wanted him.
"We had some chats about his future, and I just asked him if he'd thought about Chelsea, and he intimated that they were interested. I said 'I think it's for you.'
"I explained that he'd settle in well in London, and I said 'if you get a bit homesick, you can just jump on the train, and you're back in Brussels in five minutes.'
"I think it all played into his decision, and he fell in love with the club and he fell in love with London. I think his family is very settled, and it's worked out for him."
Abramovich could use his network of informants to outmuscle the interest of Liverpool and Manchester United once more in a bid to prise either of the three players listed by Lille.
With Saul Niguez likely to return to Atletico Madrid in January, according to Marca, and N'Golo Kante's injury problems becoming a common issue, Chelsea should eye Sanches as the heir to the Frenchman's throne in west London.
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