UEFA rules could see Danny Drinkwater make a miraculous return to Chelsea under new manager Frank Lampard.
Premier League winner Drinkwater was the forgotten man in Maurizio Sarri's one and only season at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues finished in third and won the Europa League, but Drinkwater didn't make a single appearance after being frozen out by the Italian.
It was thought the former Leicester man would be shipped off this summer.
However, with Chelsea set to see through their transfer ban at least until January, Drinkwater will remain in West London.
The 29-year-old could also feature in the Champions League, given UEFA rules claim that out of 25 players registered for the competition, eight have to be trained by clubs of the same league between the ages of 15 and 21.