Chelsea are making huge moves in this transfer window.
Fresh from a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League, the Blues are attempting to restructure and reshape Frank Lampard’s squad ahead of the 2020/21 season.
They acted swiftly and decisively, bringing in a new attacking midfielder in Hakim Ziyech, snaffling him away from Ajax.
And they also secured Timo Werner’s signature, triggering his RB Leipzig release clause.
A number of reports have also suggested that they could sign Ben Chilwell from Leicester City in yet another huge deal.
But it appears that a centre-back is also on the agenda.
The Sun reports that there is significant interest in Brighton & Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk, who is also wanted by Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea are set to pay £40 million to sign Dunk, who is a boyhood Blues fan.
The Sun states that Dunk believes he will move to west London in this transfer window, as he is considered a cheaper option than West Ham United’s Declan Rice.
The defender has been a star for Brighton, making over 300 appearances for the club and even winning an England cap in 2018.
He has played for the club in both League One and the Championship and could now be on his way to the Champions League.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
A fee of £40m feels like a lot but excellent centre-backs are hard to come by.
Dunk is certainly one of those; a player who has plenty of experience in the top-flight and who would also jump at the chance to move to Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, he averages 1.1 tackles per game in the league, per WhoScored, along with 1.5 interceptions, just 0.5 fouls, and 3.4 clearances.
He also has a passing accuracy of 87%, meaning that he can be trusted to bring the ball out of defence and distribute it effectively.
He would be a fine signing, and he is also a homegrown player who would boost the quota.
It’s something of a win-win for Chelsea but he will be remarkably hard to replace for Brighton.