Chelsea in talks over signing 'the next Virgil van Dijk' for expected £86m: report

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Chelsea FC at Turf Moor on October 7, 2023 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea are looking to bring a new defender to Stamford Bridge, as Mauricio Pochettino addresses both ends of the pitch.

The Blues' striker struggles are well documented, with Nicolas Jackson leading the line at current – but the backline hasn't been particularly watertight, either. Pochettino has flitted between the likes of veteran Thiago Silva alongside French duo Axel Disasi and Benoit Badishile among others, with Wesley Fofana still sidelined.

Contact has been made over a new superstar centre-back, with the west Londoners prepared to spend big to solve their problems. 

Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva gestures after the Blues' win at Burnley in October 2023.

Chelsea may replace Thiago Silva imminently (Image credit: Getty Images)

TEAMtalk claims that Sporting star Ousmane Diomande is being lined up for the defence, with the Portuguese club contacted over a potential move.

The Lisbon giants have indicated that it'll be £86 million to prise the Ivorian away from their side after Diomande has struck up an impressive relationship in the defence with fellow Premier League target Goncalo Inacio. Sporting stand to make a huge profit, too, having signed him for a snip from Midtjylland

Chelsea aren't the only ones with their eye on DIomande, however. The likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal are said to be interested in signing him, too.

Ousmane Diomande in action for Sporting CP

Ousmane Diomande is wanted by a host of big sides (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to TEAMtalk's report, "Leny Yoro and Jean-Clair Todibo are also on Chelsea’s radar alongside Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, but Palace have refused to sell the England star in this window."

Transfermarkt values Diomande at €40m.

More Chelsea stories

Chelsea are ready to rival Manchester City and Barcelona for a Brazilian teenage starlet who has been likened to Lionel Messi.

Chelsea are also eyeing a striker who is scoring plenty of goals for La Liga surprise package Girona.

And the Blues have joined the race to sign a defender who has been likened to Raphael Varane.

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.