Chelsea are in talks to recall striker Marc Guiu from his Sunderland loan spell amid uncertainty around the future of Nicolas Jackson and an injury to Liam Delap.
The Blues previously agreed for Jackson, 24, to have a medical at Bayern Munich for an initial £13m loan move, but opted to withdraw from the agreement, which also included a £56.2m option to buy, after Delap suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.
Jackson was asked to return to London but Bayern were also given the option of agreeing a permanent deal instead.
Funds from a sale were to be used on a replacement with Sporting striker Conrad Harder identified as the primary target, but he had already been in advanced talks with German club RB Leipzig and is still expected to move there as now-Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko’s replacement.
Harder, 20, had been offered a lesser squad role at Chelsea compared to at Leipzig.
The alternative solution to recall Guiu, 19, from his loan spell at Sunderland is ongoing and now expected to happen.
Guiu scored one goal in his only start for the Black Cats, having made a further two substitute appearances, having joined Chelsea from Barcelona for £5m in 2024.
Sunderland are now expected to re-enter the market for a replacement.