Chelsea 'will make Leicester star Ben Chilwell top January transfer target' if ban on buying players is overturned in the next few days

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Chelsea will make Leicester left back Ben Chilwell their top target in January should their transfer ban be lifted in time.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for Chilwell since earlier this season with Frank Lampard a keen admirer.

Lampard said on Tuesday that he will know within 'days' whether he can sign players in the new year as the Blues wait to hear if their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has been successful.

Chelsea will make Ben Chilwell a top target in January should their transfer ban be lifted

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has said he expects news about the ban withing the new few days

Chelsea have challenged the verdicts by FIFA's disciplinary and appeal committees, which said they had violated rules protecting minors from trafficking on 150 occasions - all of which involved 70 players.

The Premier League club also broke rules prohibiting third-party influence on players, with FIFA imposing a fine of £467,000. 

Lampard has grown hopeful that the transfer ban will be lifted 'very soon' and the 41-year wants to pursue a move for Chilwell.

The Athletic reports that the 22-year-old is 'their first-choice target'.  

Chilwell has scored once and assisted three times in the Premier League this season

Lampard wants to address the situation at left back as soon as possible.

Marcos Alonso, after featuring over the last few seasons, hasn't played since being brought off against Ajax at the beginning of last month.

Emerson Palmieri has instead been Lampard's preferred choice but he isn't guaranteed a long-term place in the team. 

It has also been reported that Valencia's Jose Gaya, who has played twice against Chelsea in the Champions League this season, is someone Lampard would turn to should a deal for Chilwell not materialise.           

Chelsea face competition for Gaya's signature, though, with Manchester United also recently rumoured to be interested as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to add depth to his defence.