Chelsea central defender David Luiz is hoping to step up his recovery from a knee injury before the transfer window reopens in January.

Head coach Antonio Conte last week described Luiz’s problem as “serious”, but the Brazilian believes he could be ready to start running properly again this week.

That would still put Luiz some weeks from a playing comeback, but would potentially allow him to prove his fitness before the January transfer window closes.

Luiz is concentrating on getting fit, but his Chelsea future had been put in doubt before the troublesome knee injury flared up.

Spanish sources claim Real Madrid have been watching the situation of Luiz since he fell-out with Conte and was dropped for the victory over Manchester United.

Luiz last featured for Chelsea against Qarabag in November credit: Getty Images

But the 30-year-old has not played since returning for the Champions League victory over Qarabag almost a month ago.

Luiz upset Conte with his reaction to being substituted in the home draw with Roma and was punished after it was perceived he had questioned the Italian’s tactics for the away defeat.

Despite the issues between the pair, Conte has become frustrated by the suggestion that Luiz’s injury is a convenient cover-up for the fact he wants to sell him.

But Chelsea may well be open to offers for Luiz, given his age and the fact he will only have one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season.

The Blues have a policy of only offering one-year extensions to players aged 30 or over and are unlikely to change that.

Chelsea could move for Virgil van Dijk in January credit: Getty Images

Conte has hinted that he wants Chelsea to make a new bid for Virgil van Dijk, who was left on the substitutes’ bench by Southampton at the weekend, but the club would prefer to offload a defender to do so.

Andreas Christensen has proved to be a more than able deputy for Luiz and is now ahead of the former Paris Saint-Germain star in Conte’s pecking order.

Chelsea are likely to open negotiations over a new contract for Christensen in the New Year in recognition of the 21-year-old’s impressive form.

His current deal still runs until 2020, but Christensen is already viewed as an important player for Chelsea’s future and the club do not want to encourage any outside interest.

Chelsea’s loan technical coach Eddie Newton, who kept in close contact with Christensen during his two-season spell at Borussia Monchengladbach, said: “Andreas is a player that we can definitely have here for the next 10 years. He is another John Terry for me and has that same kind of stature because he has got that ability.

“This season, he stepped in against Tottenham and Manchester United and it was like he has been there all his life. He is an incredible footballer and one this club should keep hold of very tightly.”