Names in frame for Chelsea

With such tight constraints, Chelsea's search will need to be more imaginative than simply cherry-picking from the continent's top clubs.

They need to find high-quality players who have either been injured or out of favour for most of this season or represent clubs that failed to qualify for Europe.

So here is Standard Sport's guide to some of the potential targets.

One obvious candidate would be former World Player of the Year Rivaldo. The Brazilian has fallen out with AC Milan and his contract with the Italian giants was terminated by mutual consent last month. His agents have since been busy touting him around Europe's leading clubs.

There must be concerns over Rivaldo's match fitness having hardly featured for Milan this season.

Closer to home, another option for a midfield berth could be Scott Parker who has won rave reviews for his allaction displays during Charlton's impressive start to the season. Indeed,he was a target for Ranieri before the Roman revolution.

The 23-year-old signed a new contract in the summer but Charlton would find a massive offer from Chelsea difficult to refuse. Parker underlined his potential by winning a call-up to the England squad for last month's friendly against Denmark.

While Parker would offer defensive protection, Chelsea could also be tempted by the creative talents of Jay-Jay Okocha.

The 30-year-old Nigerian has been a massive hit at Bolton since he was snapped up on a free transfer by Sam Allardyce last season. He can score and create goals and his lavish skills would be a big hit with Chelsea fans. Okocha has already warned he may seek a pre-contract agreement next month to go elsewhere when his Bolton contract ends in the summer.

He was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before Abramovich took over last August and his friend Celestine Babayaro is Chelsea's longestserving player.

In terms of defenders, one of the Premiership stalwarts of the season has been Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate and Chelsea may revive an interest first mooted in 2001.

The 33-year-old may be approaching veteran status, but remains 'Mr Consistency at the heart of a Middlesbroughdefence which has kept 11 clean sheets in the last 14 games.

His age might count against him, although Southgate has an excellent fitness record and was courted by Chelsea before joining Middlesbrough.

The defender also has the advantage of being eligible for the Champions League and would jump at the chance to pit his wits at the highest level of club football.

Away from the domestic game, Chelsea have been linked with a £15million bid for the Bayer Leverkusen defender Lucio.

Talks between the clubs are believed to be under way although Chelsea are facing competition from Juventus. The Italian club already have a verbal agreement for the Brazilian but nothing has been signed.

The 25-year-old World Cup winner is the right age, has a proven Champions League pedigree and is not cuptied after Leverkusen failed to qualify for Europe this season.

Whoever arrives at the Bridge next month it will undoubtedly increase competition for places in the team.

Ranieri already has an embarrassment of riches and keeping all his superstars happy is already proving a tricky task for the Tinkerman.

Yet more new faces will push fringe players down the pecking order and may even signal the end for veterans such Marcel Desailly, Mario Stanic, Babayaro and Boudewijn Zenden.