Chelsea Ready To Battle Real Madrid For €15m Serie A Defender

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Chelsea are linked with a move for Faouzi Ghoulam…

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is keen on signing Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam but will have to fight off interest from Real Madrid for the €15m-rated Algerian international, according to reports in France.

Mourinho has already confirmed he’s looking to strengthen his double-winning squad this summer as he gears up for an assault on the Champions League next season and it looks like he’s set his sights on a new left-back.

The future of Filipe Luis is in serious doubt after a disappointing campaign following his move from Atletico Madrid last summer and the Brazilian international is being hotly tipped for a move back to Spain.

That would leave a hole to fill in Chelsea’s squad and French outlet LE10 Sport claim that Mourinho is showing a keen interest in signing Napoli’s highly-rated full-back Ghoulam.

The Algerian international has just come off the back of an impressive season in Italy having joined from Saint-Etienne in January 2014 but the report suggests that he’d be open to the idea of moving-on if a the likes of Chelsea come calling.

LE10 Sport suggests that Napoli would demand around €15m (£11m) for the 24-year-old’s signature but Chelsea will apparently face stiff competition from Real Madrid.

New Madrid boss Rafa Benitez was the one who took Ghoulam to Napoli 18 months ago and it seems the Spaniard is keen to work with him again at the Bernabeu.

Marcelo is Madrid’s established first choice left-back but with Fabio Coentrao expected to leave this summer, Benitez is going to need to find a replacement and he’s ready to raid his former club for Ghoulam. However, Chelsea won’t give up without a fight and it’s going to be an interesting battle between two European heavy-weights.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news

The defender stands at 6ft 2in, so it a tall powerful full-back, which is something that will appeal to Mourinho, and €15m (£11m) seems like a reasonable fee for the player in today’s over-inflated market.

If Ghoulam does end up making the move to Stamford Bridge, he’ll have a tough job replacing Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back as the Spaniard has been excellent in that role over the past two seasons.