As the transfer window nears its closure, it’s clear that Chelsea need reinforcements in defence.
After signing Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante already this summer, the Blues look to be well-stocked in midfield and attack, but it’s the defensive line that looks worryingly bare.
Over the past day or so, Antonio Conte seems to have been given some worrying news about two transfer targets in this particular area: Napoli seem unwilling to let go of Kalidou Koulibaly for the amount of money that Chelsea are prepared to pay for him, whilst the club have reportedly seen a bid rejected for Alessio Romagnoli.
Reports in the Daily Mail late last night, however, suggest that Conte has turned his attention now to Torino centre back Nikola Maksimovic – delightfully dubbed the ‘next Nemanja Vidic’ by the paper.
If Chelsea are to end the window without another central defender, it will be a huge blow to Conte and his staff, given Kurt Zouma’s injury and the fact that John Terry seems to be approaching the end of a legendary career.
So it seems that the Blues’ hierarchy are identifying numerous backup plans in case they don’t manage to land their first choice targets.
