Chelsea are interested in signing Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure on deadline day, according to the Mirror.

The Hornets star has been heavily linked with Arsenal and Tottenham in the past but it appears that the Blues are the team who have stepped up their interest in the Frenchman.

Doucoure has expressed his desire to leave Watford in recent weeks as he looks for a move to a bigger club.

Paris-Saint-Germain were the firm favourites to land the 26-year-old but they have since signed Zenit St Petersburg’s Leandro Paredes, who was also a key target for Chelsea.

It seems Doucoure could well be the Blues’ favoured option to replace Cesc Fabregas. The Frenchman would not be a like-for-like replacement for the Spaniard, though.

He likes to play as a box to box midfielder, rather than the ‘regista’ role Sarri is seeking to provide cover for Jorginho.

However, with time running out before the window shuts, Chelsea may have to compromise in order to add numbers to their midfield.