Chelsea have opened talks over a move for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, reports the Evening Standard.
Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to bolster his attack this summer and the club have kept tabs on Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
However, the Serie A champions do not want to sell the Nigerian and will demand over £100 million before considering a transfer.
Chelsea are looking for alternatives capable of hitting the ground running at the Stamford Bridge.
Jackson has caught their attention and could be bought for around £30m.
The 21-year-old Senegalese ended the campaign with 12 goals and four assists in 26 La Liga games.
Nine of them came in the last eight games of the season, and Chelsea took note.
However, they are unlikely to be the only club keen on the Villarreal star after the explosive form he produced.
They met with his representatives last week to discuss a potential move, but the lack of European football could work against them.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League after a woeful campaign, while Villarreal will be playing in the Europa League after finishing fifth.
Jackson could opt to remain with the Yellow Submarine and play in Europe.
If the Barcelona-linked forward decides to leave, a move to where continental football is available could be more appealing.
Chelsea have other striking targets in mind, with Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund and Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic being watched.
However, both players are valued at more than £65m by their clubs.
They have spent more than £600m since they were taken over by Todd Boehly last summer and are at the risk of flouting Financial Fair Play rules.
The Blues must balance the books by selling some of their players before they can make big-money signings.
