Home-grown players are becoming more important than ever in the Premier League.

Clubs are already obliged to include at least eight home-grown players in their registered Premier League squads but FA Chairman Greg Dyke intends to up the quota to twelve over the course of the next few years.

That system has had a dramatic effect on the price of English players - Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, rated at £50million and £40million respectively, being amongst the most recent examples.

But home-grown players don't necessarily have to hold an English passport; according to FA and UEFA regulations, any player can count has home-grown as long as they've spent 36 months or three full seasons in England before the age of 21.

As a result, some surprising names have fallen through the loophole, eligible as home-grown under Premier League laws despite holding foreign nationalities.

And it's with that in mind we've created this list of FIVE players Chelsea should target, who you might not expect to count as home-grown.

ALEX SONG

Chelsea are already considering a cut-price bid for Barcelona outcast Alex Song and their alleged pursuit has likely been influenced by fact he qualifies as home-grown, having spent seven years at Arsenal and originally joined them from Bastia aged 17.

But in addition to that, the 27 year-old is well-experienced midfielder, boasting 49 caps for Cameroon and 54 appearances in the Champions League, whose compatibility with the English top flight is unquestionable from his many campaigns at the Emirates and most recently on loan at West Ham.

John Obi Mikel has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in recent weeks and Song could well be the perfect replacement; an overtly physical midfielder measuring in at 6 foot 1 and capable of playing at centre-back, with enough technical quality to earn a £15million move to the Nou Camp in summer 2012.

According to the tabloids, he could be available for just £5million this summer - but West Ham are determined to make Song's successful loan move permanent.

ASMIR BEGOVIC

Asmir Begovic has already been mooted as a potential replacement for Petr Cech and admittedly, the Stoke City goalkeeper seems like the perfect candidate.

Not only has he demonstrated an immaculate consistency during his five campaigns as the Potters' No.1, in that time winning the club's Young Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards, but he also qualifies as home-grown, having originally joined Portsmouth's academy all the way in 2003.

The Bosnian international is widely expected to leave the Britannia this summer, following his spate of impressive seasons and now entering the final twelve months of his contract, with the tabloids rating him at around £8million.

But whether Begovic would be prepared to act as understudy to Thibaut Courtois, at 27 years of age and verging upon his goalkeeping peek, remains to be seen.

GYLFI SIGURDSSON

Gylfi Sigurdsson has just come to the end of an absolutely emphatic season at Swansea City, bagging seven goals and ten assists in 32 Premier League appearances following his move from Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

Whether he could replicate that kind of output for a title-winning Chelsea outfit remains open to interpretation; Sigurdsson struggled to impact during his two campaigns at White Hart Lane, and wouldn't get free reign over set pieces as he does for Garry Monk's side.

But one factor certainly working in the attacking midfielder's favour is the fact he counts as home-grown. Sigurdsson boasts some rather unique origins for an Iceland international; he joined Reading's academy in 2005 and spent five more years with the club before leaving for Hoffenheim in summer 2010.

At the moment, however, the jury is still out on the 6 foot 1 midfielder. Whilst he's a sensational technical talent, he lacks the pace and power of the Premier League's top stars. Furthermore, Swansea will expect considerable compensation to part with Sigurdsson after just a single season at the Liberty Stadium.

MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN

Every top Premier League club seems to be targeting Morgan Schneiderlin and the Southampton star certainly hasn't attempted to reduce speculation by claiming his future could be revealed before the end of next week.

The France international has emerged as one of the Premier League's most formidable enforcers since the Saints' top flight ascension in summer 2012, last term averaging the second-most tackles per match, 3.7, of any player in the division.

That undoubtedly had a significant impact on Ronald Koeman's side finishing up with the Premiership's second-best goals conceded column after Chelsea, whilst triggering interest from the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United.

But Chelsea is also a plausible destination for the 25 year-old; Jose Mourinho is known to be on the prowl for another option in central midfield, and an engine-room partnership of Schneiderlin alongside Nemanja Matic would border upon impenetrable.

The fact he also meets home-grown regulations, having moved to St. Mary's as a teenager to aid their rise from League One to the top flight, is another added bonus.

PAUL POGBA

There's countless reasons Chelsea should try to sign Paul Pogba this summer, his eligibility as a home-grown player being just one of them.

Admittedly, the in-demand Juventus star's status is a little more ambiguous than the rest of the names on this list; he completed three full seasons at Manchester United before the age of 21 but not 36 months - and his move from Le Havre wasn't ratified until October 2009.

Nonetheless, even without the bonus of being home-grown, the 22 year-old would be a sensational addition to Chelsea's engine room. Through his eclectic mix of imperious physicality, technical trickery and netting prowess, bagging 20 goals in 89 Serie A appearances, he's emerged as one of the most complete centre-mids in world football since swapping Old Trafford for the Old Lady in summer 2012.

Of course, price remains the biggest obstacle for any potential suitor of the France international. According to reports from Mirror Football, Juve value him at a rather incredible £72million.