Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has identified Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson and Burnley’s Michael Keane as targets as he bids to maintain the English influence at the heart of his defence
The Blues have begun an intensive scouting drive to unearth the best homegrown central defensive talent as Conte plans for the future with John Terry coming towards the end of his career.
Owing to the Premier League’s homegrown player regulations, Chelsea scouts are keeping a particular eye on British defensive talent as they try to comply with the rules.
Gibson and Keane – both of whom are on the cusp of the senior England fold – are two to have earned glowing reviews from Chelsea spies.