Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is working with super agent Jorge Mendes on buying a Portuguese club.
The Daily Mail says Boehly intends to establish a "multi-club model", similar to Manchester City's City Football Group, which also owns Girona (Spain), Troyes (France), New York City (MLS) and Melbourne City (Australia), among others.
If the purchase goes ahead, the acquired club would serve as a "shelter" for young talent who were not yet ready for first team football at Chelsea.
Neil Bath, Chelsea's academy director, is currently seeking to identify the right club for Boehly's plans. Mendes, on the other hand, could serve as an intermediary in negotiations with the Portuguese club, if the idea is put into practice.
