Southampton want to sign Tino Anjorin as part of a double swoop for Chelsea starlets.
Saints are also hoping to seal a permanent deal for Armando Broja in the summer when his season-long loan from the European champions comes to an end.
Talks have already opened over Anjorin, who could move this month after cutting short his loan at Lokomotiv Moscow because of a metatarsal injury.
While it is unlikely anything will be agreed before the January window closes, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl plans to go back in for the 20-year-old in the summer as part of his raid on Premier League academies.
The Austria already landed other Chelsea starlets in Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu and wants to turn St Mary’s into a finishing school for players struggling to make a breakthrough at the top-flight’s biggest clubs.
Chelsea value Anjorin at around £17million. If a move to Southampton does not materialise this month, he is expected to go out on loan to a Championship club.
Thomas Tuchel is an admirer of the midfielder, but is already well-stocked in that department and plans to further strengthen in the summer with the return of Conor Gallagher from his loan at Crystal Palace. A number of targets, including Declan Rice and Aurelien Tchouameni, are also being monitored.
Anjorin cannot join on loan because they already have one Chelsea player, in Broja, on a temporary deal. So any move would need to be permanent.
Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has revealed his struggles under Tuchel after failing to establish himself since the German took charge last year.
“Obviously it’s been up and down this year,” said the USA winger, who is currently on international duty. “Not exactly where I want to be and how I want things to be right now.
“When I come to the national team it’s, ’How are things at Chelsea? What’s this, what’s that?’. It’s tough. It’s definitely played a lot on me, and mentally it’s been difficult at times.”
