According to the Sunday Times, Chelsea have made an inquiry to rivals Tottenham over one of their key players.

Antonio Conte's side are due to face Spurs at Wembley on Sunday afternoon and the timing of the story appears to be no coincidence.

Chelsea will be without captain Gary Cahill after he was sent off in last weekend's shock opening day defeat at home to Burnley.

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas is also suspended for today's game whilst Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko are not yet expected back from injury.

The Blues completed the signing of £34m Antonio Rudiger from Roma as they look to fill the void left by former club captain John Terry.

Conte plays with three central defenders and is believed to be in the market for one more before the transfer window closes.

Chelsea's audacious approach

An approach for Tottenham star Toby Alderweireld will almost definitely prove unsuccessful but Chelsea could be attempting to unsettle the player ahead of Sunday's clash.

According to Duncan Castles of The Sunday Times, Chelsea have contacted Spurs over the 28-year-old Belgian's availability.

Alderweireld is reportedly unhappy with the terms of his contract and wants parity with the club's highest paid players - Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris.

Signed for £11.5m in 2015, the former Ajax youngster has two years remaining on his current £50,000 a week contract and could surely earn more than double at any of Tottenham's Premier League rivals.

English full-back Kyle Walker doubled his wages after leaving Spurs for Manchester City earlier this summer in a £50m deal.

"Everybody is sad that he [Walker] left," said Alderweireld. "He is one of the best full-backs in the world and unfortunately he goes to another [Premier League] team."

Former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes need the club need to tie Alderweireld down to a long term contract.

"Spurs are running the risk of losing Belgium centre-half Toby Alderweireld, who has got two years left on his contract and is probably on about £50,000 a week," said Jenas on Match of the Day.

"If they could re-sign him this summer, and have him happy and on a long-term contract, that is as good a signing as they could make - but they are going to have to give him a big pay increase for that to happen.

"As things stand, he has not signed and is not going to be in any rush to change that because the closer he gets to the end of his deal, the more power he will have. Every top club in the world will be circling around him."