There is a belief that Chelsea will sign Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana this summer, says journalist Simon Phillips.

Reports suggest that the 21-year-old is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, while Phillips says he has been told that a deal will be done.

GiveMeSport Transfer Update

GiveMeSport Transfer Update

What is the latest news involving Fofana?

According to The Guardian and other outlets, Fofana has told Leicester that he wants to join Chelsea before the transfer window closes.

This comes after the Foxes rejected two bids from their Premier League rivals for the French centre-half, something manager Brendan Rodgers recently confirmed.

It is believed that Leicester are holding out for more than £80m for Fofana, a fee that would make him the most expensive defender in football history. Manchester United's Harry Maguire currently holds that record after he left the King Power Stadium for Old Trafford in a £80m deal three years ago.

Should Fofana get his move to Chelsea, he will be handed a massive pay rise. As per the MailOnline, personal terms have already been agreed, with the Leicester star set to earn £200,000 a week at Stamford Bridge if this transfer happens.

What has Phillips said about Fofana to Chelsea?

Phillips has told GIVEMESPORT that the sources he has spoken to believe Chelsea will end up signing Fofana before September's transfer deadline.

Speaking to GMS, the journalist said: "It's clear that he wants to go. It's clear that he's told everyone at Leicester that he wants to go, so it's just a case of getting that fee agreed now, and I think it will get agreed.

"Both clubs are sort of holding out. There's a bit of a stand-off at the moment, but sources I've spoken to believe that it's going to get done."

What happens if Chelsea cannot sign Fofana?

In terms of alternatives, there are not too many names floating around right now, so Thomas Tuchel may have to go with what he has got until January.

For a team that uses three central defenders, new signing Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah may not be enough, though.

With that being said, wing-backs Marc Cucurella and Reece James can both play as a centre-back. The former, in fact, recently stated that he likes playing in central defence, while the latter started there in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham last Sunday.

"I like it because you help the team in the build-up and to take the ball to the strikers. It’s different but I enjoy it," Cucurella said (via Chelsea's official club website).

In Tuchel's ideal world, Chelsea would sign Fofana. However, the German has already seen in this transfer window how easy it can be to lose out on targets, so he may very well have to make do with what he currently has at his disposal.