Danny Drinkwater is the surprise target for Chelsea following the departure of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.
Blues boss Antonio Conte is hunting for replacements with Bayern Munich's Renato Sanches, Arsenal's Alex Oxlade Chamberlain Everton's Ross Barkley also on the list.
Drinkwater is keen on the move, but fears he would end up a peripheral figure, according to the Daily Mail.
Conte plans to line-up with new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko and last season player of the year N'Golo Kante.
But Bakayoko is struggling to be fit for the season curtain-raiser against Burnley on August 12.