Chelsea are considering a swoop for Everton centre-half Jarrad Branthwaite as they look to bolster their rearguard this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
The Blues missed out on Dean Huijsen and now have Branthwaite on their radar.
The England international also has interest from Manchester United, but UEFA Champions League football will likely sway his decision.
Branthwaite enjoyed a fantastic campaign with the Toffees, helping to keep eight clean sheets in 30 Premier League outings while winning 59% of his aerial and 69% of his ground duels.
Chelsea seem reluctant to trust Trevoh Chalobah in the right-centre-half position despite his impressive performances.
They want more intensity from their centre-half, and Branthwaite fits the bill.
The 22-year-old is a dogged customer. He is always ready to crunch into challenges and fight for every ball.
However, Branthwaite is a left-footed defender and may face issues on the right side of the Chelsea defence as a partner to Levi Colwill.
The Everton man would naturally have to play more passes and defend more with his weaker foot.
It is worth noting that he played 41% of his passes last season with his right foot, which is impressive. He may be open to the role.
On the other hand, there is an argument that Chelsea do not need to sign more centre-halves.
The West Londoners already have Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Aaron Anselmino, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Mamadou Sarr on their books.
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Meanwhile, only Arsenal and Liverpool had a better defensive record than Chelsea in the Premier League. It will be wiser to spend their money bolstering their attack.
They will argue they need a leader, but Colwill has grown in leaps and bounds, while Chalobah is increasingly vocal as one of the most senior members of the team.
Chelsea do not need to fork out more money on centre-backs, and even if they do, it should be on one who can fill the right centre-half role seamlessly.