Chelsea will be undeterred by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas issuing a hands-off warning over full-back Malo Gusto.
The Blues are understood to be pushing to prise the talented teenager away from Lyon to boost competition for Reece James at right-back.
Aulas insisted on Thursday that Gusto, 19, will stay with the French club until at least the summer, amid the Blues’ interest this month.
Aulas has form for such negotiating ploys, having adopted similar strategies before high-profile Lyon exits for Bruno Guimaraes and Tanguy Ndombele — and even dating back to Alexandre Lacazette joining Arsenal in 2017.
Lyon owner John Textor will stiffen the club’s resolve to keep hold of their top talents, but Chelsea are pushing hard for further transfers, as Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali continue their major revamp at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea remain in the hunt for midfield reinforcements, with Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez still a target.
They have also not yet given up on a move for Everton’s Amadou Onana, despite a January deal appearing complicated not least by the Toffees sacking Frank Lampard.
