The People says Ribery has long been on the radar of Blues' top brass and they won't be put off in their hopes of signing him by the fact he only moved from Marseille to the Allianz Arena at the start of the season.

Malouda, 27, has himself been at Chelsea for just one term following a £13.5million switch from Lyon, but has not made much of an impact.

And the Stamford Bridge suits are desperate to bring in his 25-year-old France team-mate, for whom they would offer Malouda plus £10m cash.