Chelsea in talks with Josko Gvardiol alternative as Leipzig negotiations slow

Chelsea are in talks with Monaco over a deal for French centre-back Benoit Badiashile, 90min can confirm.

A left-sided centre-back is a top priority for Chelsea and the Blues have been locked in discussions with RB Leipzig over Croatian star Josko Gvardiol since the summer, but his outstanding World Cup has seen the 20-year-old’s stock rise.

With Gvardiol’s asking price flying up and teams from across the globe voicing their interest in the defender, Chelsea’s attempts to strike a quick deal have so far proven fruitless, with the German side happy to wait until the summer to agree to a sale.

Chelsea are looking for immediate help in defence and sources have confirmed to 90min that talks are on with Monaco over a deal for 21-year-old Badiashile.

The France Under-21 international, who has well over 100 appearances for Monaco, has long been watched by a number of sides across Europe and Chelsea were among those to consider a move during the summer.

Now, talks have been held over a move which would see Badiashile move to Chelsea in the January window to offer immediate help to a Blues backline that has kept just four Premier League clean sheets this season.

Chelsea have already done business with Monaco this season, striking a deal to recruit technical director Laurence Stewart to their new boardroom.

90min understands that Gvardiol remains Chelsea’s top defensive target but Leipzig’s reluctance to agree to a deal in January has forced the Blues to consider alternatives. Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie has also been watched but a winter deal is seen as complicated.