The former Tottenham midfielder, out of contract after a turbulent spell in north London, has been put forward to Chelsea following the collapse of their move for Lamine Camara, sources close to the club have told The Sun.
Bissouma arrived at Spurs from Brighton in 2022 amid huge expectations, and while inconsistency and off-field issues often overshadowed his time there, he showed enough at his best to suggest he can still be a tactical asset when fully focused.
Chelsea's interest in a new midfielder stems directly from deadline-day chaos. The club had targeted Camara as a replacement for Enzo Fernández, who left for Manchester City in a British-record £125m deal, only for Monaco to pull out of the agreement at the eleventh hour, leaving Xabi Alonso short of options in the middle of the park with almost no time to react.
Bissouma, who also has Premier League experience and would be open to a one-year deal with the option of a second, is understood to have interest from Ajax and Monaco as well, though he would prefer to remain in England if possible.
Chelsea have also been linked with former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum since the window closed, though sources at the club say a move for the 35-year-old is not something they are considering.
With the Camara deal now dead for the time being, Chelsea are left assessing the free-agent market as their best route to strengthening the position before the January window reopens, when a renewed approach for the Monaco midfielder — or a fresh target altogether — could resurface.
Bissouma's Tottenham career included genuine highs, among them a UEFA Europa League winner's medal last season, but he also spent time out of the picture over disciplinary matters, including a suspension for lateness under a previous manager.
At 30, a move to Chelsea would represent a fresh opportunity to rebuild his reputation at a leading Premier League club, though the Blues are also understood to be weighing up alternative options elsewhere in Europe before committing to any free-agent signing.