Chelsea will aim to continue their strong run of form when they host newly-promoted Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
Enzo Maresca’s side cruised to a 5-1 win over Dutch side Ajax in the group phase of the Champions League on Wednesday evening, and have now won each of their past four games across all competitions including an impressive victory against Premier League champions Liverpool.
The Blues will be firm favourites to get the better of the Black Cats at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and Maresca has also been boosted with news that Liam Delap will soon make a return to training.
The striker joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town over the summer but hasn’t featured since August after suffering a hamstring injury.
Despite the Englishman’s impending return, it has emerged that Chelsea are in the race to sign a Bundesliga forward.
As per TBR Football, the West London side are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani.
Asllani has scored five goals in eight games so far this season (Photo: DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy)
The report suggests that Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have also joined the race to sign the 23-year-old striker, who is making a name for himself in the German top flight.
Having joined Hoffenheim in 2020, the Kosovo international has had loan spells away from the club but has now established himself as an important player for Hoffenheim, scoring five goals so far this term.
It is claimed that the striker has also attracted interest from Manchester City, although La Liga champions Barcelona may currently be leading the race to sign the player.
Asllani is under contract with Hoffenheim until the end of the 2028/29 season, but it appears that his current side may struggle to keep hold of him with several other clubs showing interest in the player.
Barcelona’s interest in the player comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Robert Lewandowski, who is expected to depart the club at the end of the current season.