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.