Chelsea are in desperate need of signing a new striker but they have also expressed interest in landing another central defender.
Recruiting a no.9 has dominated the club’s focus this summer, a saga that will probably rumble on until the very last minute.
But the Blues attention isn’t solely centered around Erling Haaland or Robert Lewandowski.
Centre-backs from all over the continent have come up in conversation regarding a move to Stamford Bridge.
We have tried to narrow down this search by compiling a list of ten centre-halves who run out of contract next June.
Niklas Sule
Niklas Sule’s name has repeatedly been mentioned in terms of a transfer over to Chelsea.
Bayern Munich’s mighty defender is reportedly hot on the Blues radar, as they aim to take advantage of his precarious position with the German giants.
A Champions League winner who is prone to injuries, Sule certainly has pros and cons to his CV.
Raphael Varane
Like Sule, Raphael Varane is seemingly a top target for Thomas Tuchel’s team.
The Frenchman is showing no signs of renewing his deal with Real Madrid, amid serious interest from Manchester United.
Varane is one of the most decorated players in the modern game and would be a fine addition to any squad.
Matthias Ginter
Switch away from those heavily linked to Chelsea, Matthias Ginter is apparently a man in demand.
Currently residing with Borussia Monchengladbach, Sky Sports state that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all expressed interest in the German.
AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen are also said to be in the hunt.
Chelsea might need to act quickly if they want to grab Ginter.
Nikola Milenkovic
Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic is already being monitored by West Ham United, so the Blues may need to battle their London rivals for this one.
Standing at 6ft 3in, the Serbian is a towering presence at the back and is well experienced at the top level of Italian football.
Alessio Romagnoli
Remaining on the Serie A theme, Alessio Romagnoli faces a tricky situation with AC Milan.
He is the Rossoneri’s designated captain, although he missed a large proportion of 2020/21 through injury.
Romagnoli was then left out of the final four domestic league fixtures, with ex-Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori stepping in his place.
Luiz Felipe
Skimming over the Italian top flight, Luiz Felipe is another coming to the end of his deal.
The Brazilian hardly played for Lazio in the previous term, making just 18 appearances in all competitions.
Surgery to his ankle was the main reason behind his minimal amount of minutes.
Jason Denayer
Manchester City fans may have something to say about Jason Denayer, considering he was sold by the Premier League champions in 2018.
After several loan moves, the 26-year-old finally landed upon Lyon permanently.
He played 33 times last season to help the French outfit finish fourth in Ligue 1.
James Tarkowski
Keeping this one on home soil, James Tarkowski is a recognisable figure to fans of the Premier League.
Burnley have brandished his services for half a decade, with he and Ben Mee forming one of the division’s tightest defensive partnerships.
Yet, Tarkowski has already expressed his desire to leave Turf Moor if a new contract offer isn’t good enough.
Mats Hummels
One of the sport’s most revered and respected centre-backs, Mats Hummels would be a handy appointment for most sides.
At the ripe old age of 32, the Borussia Dortmund defender still has plenty to offer in the tank.
Apart from speed, which is no longer present in the German international’s legs.
Felipe
Sticking to the +30 plus theme, Atletico Madrid’s Felipe is an experienced campaigner who has been tutored by Diego Simeone.
In the past two seasons, he’s played 74 times for Atletico and was pivotal to their recent La Liga title triumph.
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