Chelsea are interested in signing Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona if they can avoid a transfer ban this summer, according to reports in Spain.

The Blues are lining up new attacking options should Eden Hazard finally make his long trailed move to Real Madrid.

Coutinho, who has struggled to impress for Barca since moving from Liverpool in a transfer that cost a flat £106million and has various extra clauses that could cost the Nou Camp club further millions in the near future.

Chelsea are interested in signing Philippe Coutinho if they can avoid a transfer ban

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser report that only one Premier League club has shown an interest in signing Coutinho - Chelsea.

However, while the Blues have the resources to cover much of Barca's original outlay and Coutinho's wages, whether they will be allowed to spend this summer is another matter.

Chelsea have been imposed with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA after breaking rules surrounding the signings of under-18 players.

The Blues are lining up attacking options should Eden Hazard make his move to Real Madrid

The Blues lost their appeal to football's governing body but are set to make their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in an attempt to overturn the sanction.

Despite the legal process being ongoing, Chelsea are still banned from signing players this summer - meaning Coutinho could be forced to extend his unhappy stay at the Nou Camp.

He has scored 21 goals in 74 appearances for the club, but has failed to fill either the boots of Neymar in an attacking role, nor Andres Iniesta in a play-making capacity.

Coutinho suffered further ignominy when his former club, Liverpool, dumped Barca out of the Champions League semi-finals last week.