Chelsea are already making moves ahead of the January transfer window with huge double transfer lined up

Chelsea have lined up a double move ahead of the January transfer window, according to a fresh report.

The Blues have spent beyond €1billion (£860million) in just three windows since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over the club in May 2022.

In September, Cole Palmer became the 25th player to join Chelsea for a transfer fee (£42.5million) since the Boehly revolution began, while in the past year, the west Londoners have broken the British transfer record twice, on Moises Caicedo (£115million) and Enzo Fernandez (£106.8million).

However, the club are looking to spend even more in January, after their dismal start to the campaign sees them languish in tenth, some 12 points adrift of the top four.

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues have made contact with Sporting over a deal for centre-back Ousmane Diomande, with the 20-year-old said to be among the club’s priority targets next month.

Sporting have reportedly already knocked back an initial enquiry from Chelsea for Diomande, and insist they will only sell for his full £69million (€80million) release clause.

The Ivorian has been a virtual ever-present for Sporting since joining from FC Midtjylland last January, and has been central to their rise to the summit of the Portuguese top flight ahead of rivals Benfica and Porto.

His former club Midtjylland have a 20 per cent sell-on clause should Sporting complete a sale of the defender.

Chelsea want to purchase a central defender despite already having Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva on the books.

Moreover, the same publication has claimed the Blues have enquired about Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, who only moved to the club from Coventry last summer.

Since that move, the striker has registered some 17 goals and eight assists in just 20 matches.

Sporting are again reluctant to sell their player and reportedly want interested clubs to pay his full £87million (€100million) release clause.