Chelsea are interested in signing Jonathan Clauss from Lens this summer. That's according to a report from GOAL, who say that the 29-year-old right-back is available for as little as £10million, with a year left on his contract at Lens.
The Blues reportedly watched Clauss on numerous occasions last season and are now willing to sign him this summer as a possible replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta. The Chelsea captain is free to leave the club this summer should he wish to depart, with Barcelona interested.
Reece James will likely remain as the club's first-choice option on the right side of defence, but a backup is needed, especially if Azpilicueta is needed. Clauss could indeed be that player - and it appears he'd be keen on a move to Chelsea if comments made by the man himself last year are anything to go by.
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Speaking to RMC Sport in October 2021, Clauss said: "Since I was kid, it’s been Chelsea, and it remains Chelsea. Would I like to discover a new country? Let’s say England...
"But I’m not really desperate to discover new countries. I’ll go where I’m taken or I’ll stay where I am. But yes, England, it makes you dream."
Thomas Tuchel recently spoke about what he expects this summer from Chelsea on the transfer front. The club are yet to bring anyone in, but a "rebuild" is necessary, the Blues head coach admitted.
"The rebuild is big," said the German last month. "The two top clubs [Man City and Liverpool] improve their teams – and they already have teams that are very clear on which to build. A rebuild is necessary for us, and that makes it more challenging, of course.
"We have clear ideas for the profiles and characteristics of these players. But it's not like we put a name on the list, and then we get the player.
"We have to convince the player, speak to their clubs, and convince ourselves this is the player [we need]. So there is normally a lot of work, and it will be the same to be competitive next season while everyone else tries to close the gap to us."
