Dutch international Eljero Elia is understood to have come to the attention of Chelsea, who are looking to use their connections through former sporting director Frank Arnesen to move ahead of Liverpool in the race for his signature.
Now at Hamburg as football director, Arnesen has been hurriedly negotiating deals for Jeffrey Bruma, Gokhan Tore, Jacopo Sala and England Under-21 star Michael Mancienne to join the German side.
And the Blues - who are in need of a winger - are said to be eyeing a retaliatory raid and are considering highly-rated Elia, 24, who is unsettled.
The Dutch Would Cup starlet fell out with former Hamburg manager Armin Veh in January, sparking huge interest - but no appropriate move could be brokered in time.
Liverpool were one of the suitors tracking Elia, but the signing of Jordan Henderson has seen manager Kenny Dalglish's interest fade - especially in the face of inflated demands from Hamburg.
Arnesen's old club believe they have leverage for a possible deal and, as such, Elia's £17million price-tag could be reduced as a form of 'compensation' for the Stamford Bridge youth raid.
Elia has made 58 appearances for Hamburg since joining the club in 2009 from Steve McClaren's old side, FC Twente.
His ability to play on both flanks earned him plenty of plaudits, both at the World Cup last year and in the Bundesliga, and that flexibility will have been duly noted by Chelsea talent scouts.
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/866752-eljero-elia-to-be-subject-of-chelsea-bid-as-liverpool-transfer-interest-wanes#ixzz1Pdv0SZTy
