Chelsea travel to Philadelphia to face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday.
Enzo Maresca’s side ran out 4-1 winners after-extra time over Benfica in the last 16 on Saturday night, during a match that was suspended for more than two hours due to bad weather.
Reece James had put the Blues in front with a superb free-kick but, after play was resumed following the delay, Angel di Maria drew the Portuguese side level from the penalty spot deep into added-time.
That goal sent the tie to extra-time and, after a goalless first period, Christopher Nkunku put the Blues in front.
Pedro Neto then added a third, before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall netted Chelsea’s fourth and booked their place in the last eight of the competition.
The West London side has already been busy in the transfer market so far this summer, but it now appears that they are interested in a Championship defender.
According to CaughtOffside, the Blues are keeping tabs on Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
Walker-Peters is set to leave Southampton this week (Photo: Action Plus Sports Images/Alamy)
The report claims that Chelsea are monitoring the Englishman, who is set to leave St. Mary’s when his contract expires at the end of the month.
Walker-Peters, 28, joined the Saints from Tottenham Hotspur back in 2020 and has since played more than 200 times for the south coast club.
Last term he played 33 times in the Premier League as Southampton were relegated back down to the Championship, but he won’t feature for the club in the second tier next term as he is set to leave this week.
The report claims that West Ham United, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth, Everton and Crystal Palace are all also keeping tabs on the right-back.
Walker-Peters has been capped twice by England at senior international level.