Michy Batshuayi is poised to join Borussia Dortmund on loan and is just waiting on Chelsea to complete an £18m deal for Olivier Giroud.
Batshuayi has become a key figure with the transfer deadline closing on Wednesday as Borussia Dortmund will not ratify Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's £55m transfer to Arsenal unless a replacement, Batshuayi, joins.
Chelsea have exploited the situation to negotiate a cut-price deal with Arsenal for 31-year-old striker Giroud. The France international, who was a target for Dortmund too, wants to stay in London and move to Stamford Bridge.
Crucially, Standard Sport understands Chelsea and Dortmund have settled on terms on Batshuayi to leave on loan and personal terms with the striker have also been agreed.
The 24-year-old, who has scored 10 goals in 25 appearances for Chelsea this term, is on standby to fly to Germany while waiting for news of Giroud's transfer across London.
Despite the prospect of getting a new striker, the late completion of this move will give Antonio Conte a problem for the match at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday.
It is believed Conte has been preparing for the contest with Batshuayi leading the line over the past few days. Alvaro Morata is unavailable due to a back problem.
He told Standard Sport earlier at his press conference on Tuesday that the Belgium international will be in the right frame of mind to play should a move elsewhere breakdown.
If Batshuayi departs, Conte is expected to play Eden Hazard as a 'false nine', with Pedro and Ross Barkley either side. He can't use Willian as he is out with a hamstring injury.
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Conte has made it clear he doesn't rate Batshuayi by starting him just four times in the Premier League since he joined in 2016.
Batshuayi wants to leave in order to play regular first-team football and secure a place in Belgium's World Cup squad.
Chelsea have looked at a number of strikers this month and were in talks for over a week with Roma over former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko.
But the Blues pulled out for good yesterday after failing to agree personal terms with the Bosnia international and a fee with the Serie A club.
Unlike Dzeko, Giroud will be eligible to play for Chelsea in the Champions League when they face Barcelona in the last 16 next month.