Chelsea are considering whether to buy Sporting Lisbon striker Conrad Harder during the January transfer window, according to reports.

The 19-year-old only moved to Portugal from FC Nordsjaelland at the start of September for €19m.

However, TBRFootball claim that the Blues are “looking closely” at Harder and they are even tempted to make a bid for him “this month”.

The Denmark Under 21 international has a release clause in his contract worth €80m (£67m) but it is believed that Sporting may may be prepared to let him leave if they receive a fee in the region of €50m (£42m).

Sporting had identified Harder as Gyokeres’s replacement

The reason why the Portuguese champions paid such a significant sum for the teenager is because they were lining him up to succeed Viktor Gyokeres.

Sporting are aware that the Swedish forward has plenty of suitors and they expect him to leave the club in the not-too-distant future, with England one of his most likely destinations.

To ensure they had a player to fill Gyokeres’s shoes, it was decided that they would go all out to sign Harder. He has had a decent start to life in Portugal, having scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists in 22 appearances.

Chelsea are not the only club pursuing the forward

TBRFootball report that Arsenal and West Ham have also been “keeping close tabs” on Harder, although it is not clear whether either team would compete with the Blues if they tabled an offer in January.

The Gunners are said to be more focused on recruiting a winger following the injury sustained by Bukayo Saka. The Hammers are in the market for a new No.9 but it’s unlikely that they would be able to spend the £42m needed to tempt Sporting into selling.

Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here