Chelsea are reportedly interested in bringing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi back to west London – and Trevoh Chalobah could be the key.

Enzo Maresca’s side have seen their promising early-season form drop off a cliff of late, failing to win any of their last four Premier League outings. A contributing factor for the downward spike is the loss of two key defenders, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, who are both enduring lengthy spells on the sidelines.

The Blues have, therefore, turned their attention to the transfer market and former player and academy product Guehi. And, if negotiations are to be entered, then-current Eagles loanee Chalobah could be used as a bargaining chip.

Guehi has come on leaps and bounds at Selhurst Park, cementing himself for England on the international stage – and claiming the armband in south London.

Rated at a staggering £70million, the Daily Mail claims Chelsea's preparation for a potential move for Guehi have gathered pace this month following the long-term injury recently suffered by their French defensive duo.

Chalobah, one of many Blues stars exiled by Maresca in the summer after an influx of talent, had impressed during his loan spell at the rival London club. Forming an impervious partnership with both Guehi and Maxence Lacroix, the Englishman has netted three times, including a scrappy strike against Palace's arch rivals Brighton – and has backed up his goals with stellar defensive showings.

Should Chelsea wish to pursue Guehi with vigour, then perhaps using Chalobah to shave off some of the millions that make up the 26-year-old’s price tag could be in order.

The defender’s views on a return aren’t clear, but if the statement he released when departing Stamford Bridge in 2022 is anything to go by, then a homecoming would be welcomed.

"It hurt a lot just because I was there for such a long time,” Guehi told Sky Sports in 2022 after leaving the Blues. “It's such a different feeling leaving there and not going back to where you've been for so long.

"But in order to grow, sometimes you have to take the hard choice and take the hard path sometimes. I felt I just wanted to carry on my development," he added. "I felt like Crystal Palace was the best place for me to go and do that.”