Schalke keen on pursuing Chelsea's Ghanaian defender

Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 are reportedly looking to sign Chelsea full-back Baba Rahman during the current transfer window. The Ghana international suffered a gruelling knee injury during an African Cup of Nations versus Uganda in January 2017, and he has since been on the sidelines.

In this period, Blues boss Antonio Conte has opted to sign the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Davide Zappacosta, who are capable of providing back-up to Marcos Alonso in the left wing-back spot whilst Kenedy has also been used with good effect in the Cup competitions this term.

Rahman is currently working his way to fitness after a long injury lay-off, and Schalke sporting executive Christian Heidel has admitted that a deal could be on after the Ghanaian impressed on his temporary stint during the previous campaign, he said: "We’re in talks with Chelsea regarding Baba Rahman. There are still one or two things to clear up on their end. We could agree on a deal with the player himself relatively quickly."

Chelsea have made it a trend to loan out several players from their system only to sell for a good profit, and the same could happen with the former Augsburg man, though he needs to establish himself as a regular first in order to make an impression.

Rahman's teammate Kenedy has also been associated with a potential move elsewhere during the winter transfer window, and Conte may opt to keep one or the other at the club with the Blues still alive in the Cup competitions as well as the Champions League.

Chelsea have begun 2018 in a relatively slow fashion with four draws in as many games, and Conte could also look to bolster the centre-forward position which has lacked the ruthlessness which the likes of Diego Costa and Didier Drogba offered. Alvaro Morata started his maiden campaign in fine fashion, but he has of late missed glorious chances to score.