Chelsea are leading the race to sign Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen in a move that would be a boost for head coach Enzo Maresca.
Huijsen has a £50 million release clause in his Bournemouth contract that is thought to become active at the end of this season and Chelsea have moved to the front of the queue for his signature.
Maresca is keen for the club to sign a ball-playing central defender to complement Wesley Fofana and also help to mitigate the impact of his absence through injuries.
Chelsea have struggled without Fofana, with Maresca viewing his ability as crucial to his style of football and the team’s success at building from the back.