Chelsea "doing work" on signing "top-class" £20m ex-Tottenham player

Chelsea are said to be working on potentially signing a former Tottenham player for manager Enzo Maresca, with the player currently enjoying an excellent season.

Chelsea targeting new defender for Maresca this summer

The Premier League top four chasers are expected to target another centre-back for Maresca this summer, after previously considering a January move for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

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The ex-Blue has given glowing endorsements.

Guehi was internally debated by Chelsea as a potential signing for the winter, but they eventually decided to postpone their plans to bring in a new body for that area of the squad and recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Palace.

Reports have since claimed that Chelsea are favourites to sign Guehi in the summer instead, with journalist Dean Jones tipping Maresca’s side to win the race for the Englishman’s signature.

“I had some scepticism when I first saw they went in for him. I’d heard nothing about it. At Tottenham, I have some reasonable contacts, but it wasn’t something I’d heard before all of this,” said Jones about a dramatic January bid from Tottenham for Guehi.

“They probably sensed that this was their big chance to go and do it because the likelihood is that Marc Guehi would choose to go to Chelsea, I’ve heard that for a long time now, and that will probably still be the case if Guehi leaves Crystal Palace at the end of the season then that’s where he ends up.”

Chelsea have been linked with other targets alongside Guehi for the centre-back area, but it is also believed that they could look to bring in a new full-back.

South American media reported this week that Chelsea have approached the representative of Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca, with BlueCo known for raiding Brazil when it comes to acquiring bright, young talent.

As well as Franca, it is now claimed that Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin is firmly on their radar heading into the summer.

The former Spurs defender left N17 in 2021 for the Black Cats, where he has since gone on to become a key player under Regis Le Bris as they chase promotion to the Premier League.

The Englishman is a mainstay for Sunderland and one of the standout members of their starting eleven, with journalist Graeme Bailey claiming Chelsea are actively running the rule over Cirkin.

Chelsea “doing work” on signing Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin

According to Bailey, in an interview for Sunderland AFC News, the 22-year-old is subject to interest from across England’s top flight. The reporter claims that Chelsea are “doing work” on signing Cirkin, but they face stiff competition from a host of rival clubs.

“Keep a close eye on Cirkin,” said Bailey. “I am told a lot of Premier League clubs have been doing work on him. Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Everton and Leeds – he is an outstanding prospect.”

Called “top-class” for his performances this term by ex-Championship striker Sam Parkin, it is predicted by some that he’d cost around £20 million.