Chelsea are prone to solving problems.
Current manager not cutting the mustard? Let’s recruit a different one.
The team still not scoring enough goals? Here’s a bucket load of cash to buy a new model.
Haven’t won the Premier League for a while? The Champions League looks a lot nice anyway.
But the Blues have another Rubik’s Cube puzzle that needs a solution.
One that is proving very tricky to rearrange.
Antonio Rudiger’s contract is still not renewed.
By now, every Chelsea fan will be aware of the consequences should the German fail to extend his Stamford Bridge stay before January comes around.
He can start to pack his bags and look for the next flight out of South West London.
And there a certainly a few destinations to choose from.
Munich, Paris and Madrid to name a few.
From beer and Bratwurst to Escargot and the Eiffel Tower, to sunshine and Sangria, Rudiger has some enticing options lying in wait.
Can the pull of the English capital be enough to ward away the tempting alternatives abroad?
That depends if Chelsea can match his wage demands, which is currently the key stumbling block between player and club.
Next resort after Antonio Rudiger
If the £29m (BBC) signing from Roma is set free in the next transfer window, then the Blues will need to source out a suitable replacement.
Do they attempt another assault on Sevilla’s settlement for Jules Kounde?
Much like the Rudiger saga, money was an issue the last time Marina Granovskaia tried to deal with the Spaniards.
Unless Chelsea capture the France international instantly, chasing him for another month seems like a waste of energy.
What are the other possibilities?
Matthijs de Ligt and Pau Torres have been touted as potential recruits.
But the pair, particularly de Ligt, will not come cheap.
So why not inspect the quality closer to home?
Although Ethan Ampadu is currently an ocean away from the Premier League, he is still a member of the Chelsea cohort.
The 21-year-old, on loan at Venezia, must be wondering when his time as a Blue will come around.
Perhaps sooner than initially anticipated.
Last night, Ampadu helped Wales to a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Estonia.
He started the match on the left side of a back three, a sign of the young man’s versatility.
Despite the relatively unknown position, his performance suggested anything but uncertainty.
This is pretty good news for Chelsea.
Should Rudiger bid farewell to Cobham, his slot in Thomas Tuchel’s defensive trio will need covering.
Could Ampadu be the natural understudy?
Perhaps not on paper, but continue to feature in that role for Wales, then he will have the necessary skillset to fulfil such a job.
Plus, Ampadu won’t cost a penny.