Report: Chelsea considering pursuit of Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, Nathaniel Clyne

A pair of defensive players from Southampton are reportedly being targeted by Chelsea.

According to the Guardian, the Premier League leaders are considering defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and right-back Nathaniel Clyne as options in the upcoming summer transfer window and scouted the two players during Southampton's 1-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday.

The report adds yet another question mark to Schneiderlin's future at St. Mary's Stadium. He handed in a transfer request last summer after watching five of his former teammates make big-money moves elsewhere, but Southampton ultimately denied the request.

More recently, Schneiderlin claimed that Champions League football would be a factor in his decision to remain with Ronald Koeman's side. However, Southampton currently sit seventh in the Premier League table - eight points out of a Champions League berth.

Clyne, meanwhile, will enter the final year of his contract next season and initial talks regarding a new deal have shown no signs that he'll be at Southampton after 2015-16.

Both Schneiderlin and Clyne are reportedly being pursued by Arsenal and Manchester United. And then there are Tottenham Hotspur, who could once again attempt to sign Schneiderlin this summer.

It's unlikely Chelsea will make any drastic changes to their squad during the offseason, and it's hard to imagine how Schneiderlin would fit into an already-crowded midfield at Stamford Bridge, or how Clyne would steal playing time from Cesar Azpilicueta or Branislav Ivanovic, who are both in excellent form this season.

However, Chelsea's new £40-million-per-season sponsorship deal with Yokohama Rubber means the club have money to spend, and their constant desire to acquire - combined with Southampton's constant desire to sell - mean few eyebrows would be raised if either Schneiderlin or Clyne made the move to Stamford Bridge.