Chelsea are pondering a final bid for Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle, while FC Porto have given Hulk until Wednesday to sort out a transfer.
The Blues are still a little thin upfront, with only Fernando Torres the recognized center forward in their ranks. Roberto Di Matteo is aware of the conundrum that Chelsea would find themselves in, if Torres were to pick up an injury, with the other only realistic option being the unproven and erratic Daniel Sturridge, whose future is still undecided.
In order to avoid a potential crisis in the middle of the season, the Blues are looking to put in another bid for the German international Schurrle, who usually plays out wide in a 4-3-3, but is also comfortable playing down the middle, according to the Guardian. Leverkusen have already rejected a £16 million ($25.3 million) bid for their striker from Chelsea, and have repeatedly said the 21-year-old is not for sale.
However, Chelsea might test the German club's resolve by making a much bigger offer, in a bid to tempt Leverkusen to sell. At 21, Schurrle would fit in perfectly with Chelsea's youth policy, and it is believed the German would be open to a move to Stamford Bridge.
Another target, Hulk, who has been linked with Chelsea the entire summer, has been given a deadline by Porto to sort out his future either way. Hulk is on the radar of Chelsea, with the Blues refusing to meet Porto's transfer demands. Zenit St Petersburg have also been touted as a possible option for the highly-rated Brazilian international forward.
"Tuesday or, maximum, Wednesday, there will be a solution," Porto's media officer told Antena 1.
"There are three proposals from abroad -- two English clubs and Zenit -- there are talks with the player and with Porto.
"Staying in Porto is also a real possibility. He is very satisfied and there is no problem."
The other English club is believed to be Tottenham Hotspur, with manager Andre Villas-Boas well aware of the striker's talents, having coached him a couple of years back.
Meanwhile, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who moved to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua at the end of last season, linked up with his old teammates at Cobham Tuesday. Drogba took advantage of a break in the Chinese season to come back to London, where his family still resides.
The future of the Ivorian, as well as Nicolas Anelka is up in the air, however, with an internal power struggle at Shenhua causing disruptions, which could eventually lead to the start players' salaries not being paid.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Drogba said he is enjoying his time in China. "It is good, it is a new experience and the first month has been reaching out in terms of learning new things, learning a new culture. It is very different to what I am used to in Europe, I like it," the striker told Chelsea's official website.
"People may have seen the video of my arrival and the fans were really great. In the stadiums it is the same as everywhere - when you play football there is the passion."
However, with the situation as it is in China, a last-minute arrival of one of Chelsea's greates ever players cannot be ruled out.