Chelsea have had a bid for Borussia Dortmund’s English winger Jamie Gittens rejected by the German club.
Gittens, 20, is keen to move to Stamford Bridge but the two clubs were unable to agree a fee ahead of the first of two summer transfer deadlines.
The Blues offered around £42m for him and are expected to make another approach when the transfer window reopens.
Chelsea were alsounable to agree a fee for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan ahead of Tuesday’s 7pm deadline.
The change to the transfer window system this year was made primarily to give clubs involved in the Club World Cup, which Chelsea will compete in this summer, the chance to sign players for the tournament.
Maignan has a year remaining on his Milan contract and has indicated that he would like to move to the Premier League.
Keeper has been a problem position for Chelsea in recent seasons and they have been widely expected to strengthen their options this summer.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy were both unconvincing and this season Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have similarly made errors.
Gittens, 22, has been identified as a possible alternative to Jadon Sancho, who will not be joining Chelsea on a permanent basis.
Sancho was signed on a season-long loan from Manchester United last summer and the deal included an obligation for Chelsea to buy him for £25m.
But for some time the Blues have beenreluctant to go through with the signing.
They will pay United £5m as a penalty for not buying Sancho, who only started 19 Premier League matches last season.
Meanwhile, back-up keeper Marcus Bettinelli has left Chelsea to join Manchester City.