Champions League side plot surprise move for Chelsea star Benoit Badiashile - Reports

Italian giants Juventus could make a surprise move for Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile in the upcoming transfer window. The 23-year-old is one of five players on the club’s list following a defensive crisis.

Thiago Motta’s side have enjoyed a decent start to the campaign. They have remained unbeaten in Serie A after 12 matches (six wins and six draws), and have lost only once (vs Stuttgart) in the UEFA Champions League. The Old Ladies, however, are currently undergoing a crisis, with multiple first-team defenders suffering long-term spells on the sidelines.

Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer suffered a cruciate ligament tear in early October. Summer recruit Juan Cabal is also ruled off for the season after picking up a similar injury while on international duty with Colombia.

The Serie A outfit will look to bolster their defensive unit in the January window. Chelsea centre-back Badiashile has emerged as one of the club’s possible targets, as per a report by Gazette. Badiashile joined the Blues last summer from AS Monaco but has yet to establish himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge.

The France international has managed just 41 appearances across competitions since joining the London club. This season, he has played a squad role under Enzo Maresca, getting a total of 667 minutes in eight games across competitions.

A good chunk of Badiashile’s appearances have come in the UEFA Conference League and EFL Cup, with the defender making just one appearance in the league off the bench. Maresca has opted for Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana as his first-choice centre-back pairing.

As per the aforementioned report, Juventus could rope in the Frenchman on loan as a short-term solution to their backline. Other names on their list include Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Radu Dragusin (Tottenham), David Hancko (Feyenoord), Milan Skriniar (Paris Saint-Germain), and Joachim Andersen (Fulham).

The lack of regular first-team football at Chelsea could persuade Badaishile to move for the second half of the season. However, it remains to be seen if Chelsea would be open to a deal for their defender who is contracted to the club until 2030.

Chelsea to battle Tottenham Hotspur for 22-year-old Premier League defender – Reports

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabarnyi. The 22-year-old has proven himself as a decent centre-back since joining the Cherries from Dynamo Kyiv last summer. He has registered one goal in 58 games for the club.

The Blues will, however, face competition from Tottenham who are also keen on adding the young defender to their ranks. They currently have Wesley Foafana, Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Tosin Adarabioyo as center-back options. However, Zabarnyi will be a good addition to the side for the future.