Chelsea are considering making an approach for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as they pursue replacements for long-term absentee Wesley Fofana.
Fofana was ruled out for a considerable period of time after suffering an ACL injury during pre-season and has been forced to undergo surgery as his misfiring Chelsea career continues to stutter.
The Frenchman joined the Blues for £70m last summer and the club could now have to fork out a similar amount for his replacement as they weigh up a move for Guehi.
Palace value their centre-back at £60m and are in a strong negotiating position given the defender still has three years remaining on his existing deal at Selhurst Park.
Guehi left Chelsea in 2021 after being deemed not good enough to make the grade at Stamford Bridge, but is now being considered for a return just two years later.
Palace paid just £18m for the 23-year-old and have overseen a marked improvement in his development as Guehi established a regular starting role within the team.
He made 40 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles during the recent Premier League season that saw Palace flirt with relegation before the appointment of Roy Hodgson steered them to safety.
Guehi has also forced his way into the England national team set-up and has featured four times under Gareth Southgate with his latest appearance coming in a 4-0 victory over Malta in June.
He was given extended leave by the club after his post-season England commitments and wasn’t involved as Palace beat Crawley in a friendly on Wednesday, but will travel with the team for their upcoming tour of America.
Chelsea are already Stateside and are in a precarious position ahead of the Premier League season with a so far threadbare squad failing to win over critics and Blues supporters.
Guehi would add Premier League experience to Chelsea’s defence, although the Blues will have to satisfy Palace’s price tag after failing to inset a buy-back clause in Guehi’s contract when he made the move to Selhurst Park.
The Blues are attempting to balance Financial Fair Play regulations and have been reprieved of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang after the striker agreed to join French side Marseille.
Aubameyang joined Chelsea last summer as a last-ditch solution to the club’s striker crisis but failed to make an impact as Graham Potter and then Frank Lampard restricted his first-team minutes.
The former Arsenal man has one-year on his existing deal but will be allowed to leave for free as Chelsea try to cut their losses early.
Aubameyang has committed to a two-year contract with the Ligue 1 club and will undergo a medical on Thursday.
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