The west London club's deadline-day offensive for the Monaco midfielder fell apart in the closing stages after an unexpected U-turn from the Ligue 1 club, leaving Chelsea needing a fresh solution having already sanctioned Enzo Fernandez's sale to Manchester City.
With the transfer window now closed to permanent deals in England, the club has turned to the free agent market, where the 35-year-old Dutchman remains available following his departure from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
Wijnaldum would arrive without any transfer fee attached, making him an appealing short-term option for a club needing to fill a genuine gap in central midfield before the January window reopens.
Despite his age, he arrives with considerable pedigree, having played for Newcastle United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain earlier in his career, giving him an intimate knowledge of the Premier League that few other available free agents could match.
The Dutch international enjoyed a productive campaign in Saudi Arabia last season, contributing 17 goals and seven assists in 34 appearances for Al-Ettifaq, numbers that suggest he retains genuine attacking output even at this stage of his career. Chelsea are believed to be considering only a short-term contract to bridge the gap until the club can pursue a more permanent midfield solution when the window next opens.
The approach fits a broader pattern in Chelsea's recruitment this year, with the club having already added experienced figures such as Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck to blend with its heavily youth-oriented squad. Wijnaldum's arrival, should it be completed, would extend that strategy further, giving Xabi Alonso a proven if ageing option in a position the club had expected to have resolved before deadline day.
Wijnaldum left Liverpool for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before enduring a difficult two years in the French capital, followed by a loan spell at Roma that also failed to reignite his career at the top level in Europe. His move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 to link up with former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard represented something of a career reset, and his statistical output there suggests he retains more to offer than his recent European struggles might have indicated.
Chelsea's willingness to consider him at all reflects the scale of the gap left by Fernandez's exit rather than any long-term plan built around the veteran midfielder.