Chelsea are contemplating a move for Sporting CP wing-back Maxi Araújo as a potential replacement for Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea have agreed a deal to sell Cucurella to Real Madrid for an initial fee of £47.5m, with the Spaniard set to sign a six-year deal with the La Liga side after the World Cup.
Cucurella’s exit leaves Chelsea in search of a wing-back to feature in Xabi Alonso’s preferred system, with Araujo on the radar.
The Uruguayan has excelled as part of a similar system at Sporting and journalist Si Phillips has claimed Chelsea are considering him as an option.
The 26-year-old scored five goals and created four more in the Primeira Liga for Sporting last season, featuring in a variety of roles down the left.
Chelsea confident €50m fee enough to sign Sporting wing-back Araujo
Araujo has a release clause of €80m in his contract in Lisbon, though there are suggestions he could be allowed to leave for between €35m (£30.2m) and €50m (£43.2m).
Araujo is currently with the Uruguay squad at the World Cup, where the South Americans face Saudi Arabia this evening.
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