Chelsea are planning a move for French defender Ismaël Doukouré who currently plays for their sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
It comes as the defender is attracting interest from several other Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United keen on signing him. Crystal Palace and Brighton were also considering a move for him, and there was also links with Saudi Arabia.
However, because of their established links through BlueCo, Chelsea would always be favourites to sign a player who has recently agreed a new deal with the French club.
Central defence has been identified as a position in Enzo Maresca’s squad that needs strengthening.
Although Doukouré is of Ivorian descent, he has played for France at under-21 level, and was also part of the squad that competed for them in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Whilst primarily a centre-back, he can also operate as a defensive midfielder, which adds to his versatility.
