Chelsea are considering re-signing Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and the club could be forced to drop the asking price by £70m international to boost the Blues.

Chelsea are exploring a return to Stamford Bridge for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Mail Sport has learned that there have been machinations over a possible raid this month and the Selhurst Park club are aware of Chelsea's interest following Wesley Fofana's injury.

The Blues are set to bring in a new centre-back, with one option considered being to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Palace.

But Palace are also open to entering the transfer market, with Guehi among the names at the top of their list.

A move would be complicated given Palace's desire to keep Guehi at the club and, ideally, persuade him to sign a new contract.

However, with England international Guehi only having 18 months left on his contract, Palace's control over the future of their central defense is weakened.

Chelsea are exploring a return to Stamford Bridge for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi

Mail Sport understands there have been machinations over a possible raid this month and the Selhurst Park club are aware of Chelsea's interest following Wesley Fofana's injury.

The Blues are set to sign a new centre-back, with one option considered being to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Palace.

Enzo Maresca is a big admirer of Guehi, who was excellent against Chelsea in the 1-1 draw between the two clubs on Saturday.

Palace valued Guehi at around £70million in the summer, but that asking price may have dropped given he may sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign club in less than a year.

Coincidentally, Chelsea could use Chalobah as a complement in any deal for Guehi. However, Mail Sport understands Palace would prefer a straight cash deal for their centre-back.

Any move for Guehi to Stamford Bridge would also be complicated by the fact that Chelsea have a sell-on clause of between 17 and 20 per cent after selling the 24-year-old to Palace in 2021.

It is not clear how that clause would be activated if Chelsea were the purchasing club.

Chelsea would also need to consider whether a move for Guehi would fit into their wage structure as their American owners would stop paying large wage packages.

Guehi is likely to earn a salary of around £170,000 a week.

Chelsea do not rule out calling up Chalobah instead of turning to the transfer market.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca initially estimated that Fofana would be out for “at least three, four, five weeks” before stating it would be for the rest of the season.

However, Fofana has dismissed claims that he will be out of action for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury during Chelsea's 3-0 win over Aston Villa in December.

The versatile defender joined the Selhurst Park club temporarily in the summer window and has played a key role in Oliver Glasner's side so far.

Chelsea, however, have a withdrawal option as part of their deal with Palace and the Blues are understood to be considering exercising the clause following Fofana's injury.

France international Fofana will miss an extended period due to injury, with coach Enzo Maresca even suggesting he could miss the entire season.

Palace are believed to be aware of the fact that Chelsea are weighing up the possibility of bringing Chalobah back to London, and the Eagles are understood to be relaxed about the possibility.

Chalobah, for his part, is said to be keeping an open mind about the possibility of returning to Stamford Bridge, despite being effectively forced to leave the club in the summer.

The defender was told he had no future at Chelsea this summer and was told to train outside the senior squad, so the prospect of a recall would be a big turnaround.