Chelsea have been told how much it will cost to sign Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries. The Blues are said to be in the market for a new right-back to deputise Reece James, who has struggled with several injuries in recent times.
Graham Potter was without one of the west Londoners' key players in the final fixtures leading up to the World Cup after the Cobham graduate suffered a knock to the knee. After failing to sign an understudy to James in the summer, Chelsea were left to rue the decision with just Cesar Azpilicueta, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Raheem Sterling as the club's only viable senior options to cover the right wing-back position.
In the 22-year-old's absence, the Blues won just once in seven games, losing four and drawing twice. So, with Todd Boehly eager to right his wrongs, Dumfries is said to remain a key target ahead of the January transfer window.
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According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan are ready to demand a fee in the region of £50million (€60m) for the Netherlands international in a bid to ward off interest. However, the report states that, despite the Nerazzurri's reluctance to cash-in on the defender, they are 'open to a sale' due to the club's financial situation.
Dumfries has been heavily linked with moves to Manchester United and Everton in the past but a switch to the Premier League has always failed to materialise. In fact, during negotiations of Romelu Lukaku's return to Inter in the summer, Chelsea asked the Italian giants to include Dumfries as part of a permanent player-plus-cash swap deal, reports the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Speaking in September, the 26-year-old admitted that he was 'flattered' by interest in his services but insisted that he's focused on succeeding at the San Siro. Speaking to De Telegraaf, as quoted by 90min, Dumfries said: "The interest flatters me, of course. But my focus is only on Inter. We want to win the Scudetto because we lost it last season."
Dumfries has started in each of the Netherlands' opening pair of World Cup group stages fixtures, completing 90 minutes in both. The Dutchman has been a key component of Louis van Gaal's success in Qatar thus far and looks set to be the perfect deputy to James if Chelsea can wrap up a deal.
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