Chelsea have included Nice right-back Youcef Atal on a list of possible transfer targets this summer, should their Fifa ban be delayed.

The exciting 22 year-old is being tracked by a number of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, and would cost at least €40 million (£34.6m), although that price could go up.

Atal became the first Algerian to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 for 33 years at the weekend, in Nice’s 3-0 win over Guingamp, prompting coach Patrick Vieira to try and dampen down the interest and insist he is not for sale.

However, Atal, who played on the left of midfield in that game, has already been scouted by clubs around Europe after a series of impressive performances; not least as a quick and skilful dribbler. It is therefore expected that Nice will have a fight on their hands should a bid be made and they try and keep him.

Atal only joined Nice last summer from Belgian club Kortrijk and has become a star of the Algerian national team which will compete in the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Youcef Atal celebrates after scoring for Nice credit: afp

Despite insisting that Atal will stay with Nice, who are seventh and still challenging for a top-four finish and European qualification, Vieira is well aware of the interest in the player who is coveted by Champions League clubs in England, Germany, Spain and Italy and has been hailed as a revelation in France this season.

It is understood that Atal would like to test himself in the Champions League, although he accepts he is only just completing his first season in a major European League. However, it does seem that Nice’s public resolve to keep him will be tested.

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Chelsea could learn this week whether they are free to buy at all during the next window. They are appealing against the immediate enforcement of the two-window punishment handed down by Fifa in February after being found guilty of signing under-age non-EU players.

They had expected it to be suspended over the summer to allow them to prepare for the ban, in the way that Real Madrid and Atletico were allowed to do so, but were stunned when Fifa said it would apply immediately.

Chelsea are interested in Atal, who is versatile, despite already having Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back and with 19-year-old Reece James expected to return to the club after his successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic this season.