Chelsea are considering a summer move for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana, according to reports.
Goal claims that the European champions are interested in the 20-year-old, who has impressed since joining Leicester from St-Etienne in 2020.
A number of Chelsea defenders are out of contract at the end of the season, including centre-backs Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva.
Rudiger and Christensen have both stalled on signing new deals at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea are now identifying potential replacements should they leave the club.
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Fofana is currently out injured after suffering a broken leg in a pre-season friendly against Villarreal.
Chelsea are therefore not expected to make a move in the January transfer window and will instead weigh-up a summer bid for the French defender.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers hopes to have Fofana available again early next year.
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“(Fofana) is working very well. We’re just cautious around that,” said Rodgers.
“He’s done so well and worked so hard. We’ll see where he’s at come the beginning of the new year.”
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail claims that Rudiger could become the highest-paid defender in the world, should he leave Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The report claims that Rudiger is increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge and could secure a £400,000-a-week contract, with foreign clubs able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with the Germany international from next month.
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Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus have all been linked with Rudiger, who is thought to be on a £100,000-a-week contract at Stamford Bridge.
Last month, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel insisted Rudiger is fully committed to Chelsea and is not being distracted by his ongoing contract negotiations.
“It does not affect this mentality, it does not affect his quality and it does absolutely not affect his behaviour. He is fully committed to Chelsea right now,” Tuchel said.
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“I am absolutely sure he feels the trust and respect and the love from the club and from the spectators.
“He is a big competitor and he is in exactly the right spot. He is in the most competitive league, he is at a club where he really matters and that suits him perfectly, so let's be patient and hopefully we have a good ending.”
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Chelsea, Leicester City, Antonio Rudiger, Transfers, Premier League
