Exclusive: Chelsea are 'very interested' in bringing back £70m player who Thomas Tuchel let go

• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Chelsea have made a really productive start to life under Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea reside in third place after their comfortable 2-1 victory against Leicester City on the weekend – which resulted in the sacking of Steve Cooper.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	12	10	1	1	24	8	16	31
2	Man CityManchester City	12	7	2	3	22	17	5	23
3	ChelseaChelsea	12	6	4	2	23	14	9	22
4	ArsenalArsenal	12	6	4	2	21	12	9	22
5	BrightonBrighton	12	6	4	2	21	16	5	22

Just a point separates them from reigning champions Manchester City heading into the busy festive period.

Maresca has been able to implement a clear identity and a possession-based approach, which is evidently getting the buy-in from players.

The club are already looking at transfer targets to fit into his system ahead of 2025 and with that said, TBR Football can now reveal who they’re keeping tabs on.

• READ MORE: Pundit says Chelsea have a £25m player who reminds him of Eden Hazard

Chelsea ‘very interested’ in signing Marc Guehi

TBR Football can confirm that Chelsea remain ‘very interested’ in Marc Guehi’s situation as long-term they are keen to upgrade their current stock of central defenders behind first choice pairing Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill.

Former Chelsea product Guehi is set to leave Selhurst Park in 2025. His current deal expires in 2026 and a new contract is unlikely to be agreed.

TBR Football can also reveal that London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are following the 24-year-old’s situation.

Palace were demanding £70m for Guehi in the summer.

• READ MORE: £50m Chelsea player Enzo Maresca keeps overlooking could get escape route in January

Guehi’s remains Newcastle’s number one target

TBR Football also understands that Guehi remains Newcastle United’s first choice option, if they bring in a new defender in January – but it is far from certain that he would be leaving Palace in January.

Newcastle want and need a new central defender and a right sided forward, but they still have PSR issues which saw them having to sell Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson in the summer.

Newcastle made a concerted effort to land Guehi but it remains to be seen whether they make a new bid for the England defender.

Indeed, Palace as it stands are understood to be far from keen on a mid-season deal.

• READ MORE: Enzo Maresca is ‘trying to convince’ Chelsea star to play like £15m Leicester ace