Chelsea are believed to the keen on acquiring the services of Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The 26-year-old's contract at the Bavarian club expires during the summer, and he is yet to come to an agreement over new terms with his employers.
Now The Mirror reports that the Blues are interested in getting the Germany international to commit to a pre-contractual agreement in January, with a view to a Bosman transfer during the summer.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are thought to have been alerted about the potential availability of the midfielder.
Schweinsteiger played in last season's Champions League final as Bayern lost to Inter. He also experienced a positive spell during the World Cup - and was even named Man of the Match when Germany beat Argentina in the quarter-finals of the tournament.