Chelsea approach Luis Campos to replace Michael Emenalo amid Gianfranco Zola links

Chelsea's attempts to replace Michael Emenalo have led to them approaching high-regarded scout Luis Campos.

Campos, currently at Lille, played a major role in recruiting many of the Monaco squad which won last season's Ligue 1 title.

Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Fabinho's arrival at the principality was in part down to the influence of Campos.

The 53-year-old also worked as a scout under former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and according to The Sunday Times would be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.

Emenalo announced his decision to leave Chelsea after 10 years in west London at the start of the week, leaving a power vacuum at the Premier League champions.

While Chelsea are not looking for an identical replacement for Emenalo, who was in charge of recruitment and the academy, they will fill the berth to take the strain over director Marina Granovskaia, who has taken over the former technical director's responsibilities.

Granovskaia is set to lead Chelsea's attempts to improve their squad in the January transfer window and has already begun talks with agents ahead of the New Year. Everton midfielder Ross Barkley and a new striker are top of Antonio Conte's wishlist.

A succession of names have been linked with the vacant role at Chelsea - which is not expected to include direct contact with owner Roman Abramovich - with former striker Didier Drogba and Hull City boss Leonid Slutsky among them.

The Sun understand that Gianfranco Zola, who was voted Chelsea's greatest ever player in 2003, has joined that list. The Italian is seen as the man to build bridges between the Blues hierarchy and manager Antonio Conte who has taken aim at the board for the lack of activity in the summer transfer window.