Chelsea have reportedly made ‘contact’ with Porto over a deal for left-back Alex Telles as a potential alternative to Leicester’s Ben Chilwell.
Frank Lampard’s summer recruitment plans are already in motion following the capture of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, with the Blues’ boss now keen to strengthen his options at full-back as his rebuild continues.
The west London side have been strongly linked with a move for England international Chilwell in recent months, however, a deal for the 23-year-old is likely to prove costly with Leicester‘s likely qualification for the Champions League further strengthening their position.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Porto’s Telles is now one alternative on Chelsea‘s radar, the club said to have made contact with the Portuguese side over a player who has less than 18 months remaining on his current contract.
The report suggests that a summer move for the Brazilian international is ‘inevitable’, Telles unwilling to sign an extension to his deal that is believed to contain a release clause of £36m.
Lampard has made the signing of a new left-back a priority having been unconvinced by both Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri this season, the duo facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge alongside a host of experienced stars including the out-of-contract Willian, Pedro and Olivier Giroud.