Chelsea Transfer News: Paco Alcacer Bid Planned, Andriy Yarmolenko Rumours

Chelsea's attacking lineup looks braced for winter renovations after it emerged the Blues are keen on a move for Valencia's Paco Alcacer, while Dynamo Kiev winger Andriy Yarmolenko is open to leaving Ukraine.

Jose Mourinho's side beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday after Eden Hazard was dropped from their starting XI, and his place could be under fire as the Sun reports Chelsea are interested in Alcacer's services (h/t ESPN FC).

It's alleged the Spain international's £56 million buyout clause "could be negotiated" down with the intervention of Jorge Mendes, Mourinho's agent and representative to numerous figures at the Mestalla.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Portuguese power player Mendes has helped Los Che raid Primeira Liga giants Benfica to sign the likes of Rodrigo, Enzo Perez, Joao Cancelo and Andre Gomes, but he may now have a hand in a big departure.

The transfer would still be a costly one for Chelsea as a £50 million price tag is attached to 22-year-old Alcacer, an extravagant figure considering he's scored just one goal in 10 games this season.

Yet while his club form has been relatively poor, Alcacer has been an impressive source of goals for Spain of late, as pointed out by ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan during the Euro 2016 qualifier against Luxembourg:

His international record now stands at six goals in just 10 outings under Vicente del Bosque, and perhaps Mourinho has seen enough to feel he can build an attack around the young talent.

The Blues boss has attempted to do just that with another La Liga alumni, former Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa, but last season's menace has struggled to recapture the same form this term.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

The ESPN FC report stated Chelsea scouts were on hand as Alcacer featured in Valencia's 3-0 win over Malaga on Saturday, but the question is whether they were left impressed despite his failure to score.

A considerably more affordable pursuit would be that of Yarmolenko, who has hinted at his intention to nevertheless move on in 2016, despite penning a four-year extension at Dynamo earlier this week, per James Cambridge of the Sunday Express:

"

I still want that [to test myself in the best foreign leagues]. I know that if Dynamo get really worthy offers we’ll find an option that satisfies everyone. I want the club to get good compensation for me. I could have left for free in a while, but that would have been wrong.

I am 100 per cent a Dynamo player. Our team is like my second family. That’s why I keep doing my best to benefit the club.

"

The 25-year-old's intention to make money for his club of eight years is an admirable one, and his west London suitors may be only too happy to take advantage of that availability.

Yarmolenko has scored 20 goals in 53 appearances for Ukraine since making his international debut in 2009, growing to become an essential figure for both club and country since his days as a prodigious talent.

Hazard's absence from Saturday's starting XI served as a sign that change is afoot at Stamford Bridge, and after such a downtrodden start to the 2015-16 campaign, no player looks untouchable.

Mourinho made a personal trip to Kiev's Olympic Stadium last week to take in Ukraine's 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat to Spain, and Spanish daily AS asserted it was Yarmolenko he had travelled to see:

It appears the Blues are working hard to gather detailed intelligence on their winter wish list, and Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport has reported it would take a €20 million (£15 million) outlay to secure his services.

Many in west London will feel defence has been the Blues' greatest weakness this term, but speculation dictates it's the attack Chelsea will be looking to upgrade come January.