According to reports from The Guardian, Chelsea could launch a shock swoop for former Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Togo international scored 96 goals in 225 appearances during his spells in the Premier League but left all three clubs on rather sour terms.
The Lilywhites finally parted company with Adebayor in September, cancelling his contract a year before its expiration, and reports earlier this month revealed that he is hoping to revive his career with a move to Serie A.
But The Guardian suggest the 31-year-old could land significantly closer to home, representing the third London club of his career in the form of Chelsea.
The Premier League champions are growing increasingly concerned with first-choice centre-forward Diego Costa, who has scored just four times in 17 appearances this season, and will spend the next few weeks deciding whether to sign another striker in January – with Adebayor a surprising figure on their radar.
The 6 foot 3 frontman has worked under Jose Mourinho before, during a six-month loan at Real Madrid in 2011, and would be a short-term fix on a free transfer until more coveted targets become available during the summer.