Sports Captures by Prime9jaOnline can reveal that Chelsea and Monaco are in negotiations over a transfer for French centre defender Benoit Badiashile.
Chelsea's first goal is finding a left-sided centre defender, and the Blues have been in talks with RB Leipzig since the summer about Croatian star Josko Gvardiol. However, the 20-year-stock old's has risen as a result of his impressive World Cup performance.
Chelsea's attempts to close a deal quickly have so far been unsuccessful since Gvardiol's asking price is rocketing up and clubs from over the world are expressing interest in the defender. Instead, the German club is content to wait until the summer to reach a deal.
Sources have revealed to Sports Captures by Prime9jaOnline that negotiations are ongoing with Monaco over a transfer for 21-year-old Badiashile as Chelsea seeks quick assistance in the defence.
Many teams in Europe have been keeping an eye on the France Under-21 international, who has made well over 100 appearances for Monaco, and Chelsea was one of those to contemplate a transfer during the summer.
In order to provide urgent assistance to a Blues backline that has only maintained four Premier League clean sheets this season, conversations have been made about a deal in which Badiashile would transfer to Chelsea in the January transfer window.
Chelsea has already conducted business with Monaco this year, signing a contract to bring Laurence Stewart, their technical director, inside their new boardroom.
Gvardiol is still Chelsea's top defensive target, according to Sports Captures by Prime9jaOnline, but Leipzig's refusal to agree to a deal in January has prompted the Blues to look at other options. Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen has also been kept an eye on, although a winter deal is thought to be difficult.