Chelsea are eyeing a move for Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, joining a host of clubs vying for his signature, Soccernet.ng understands.
With Thiago Silva's impending departure and uncertainty over Trevoh Chalobah's future, the Blues are poised to shore up their defence this summer.
Chelsea's defensive woes have been evident this season, with a record-breaking 59 goals conceded in the Premier League, though they managed to keep a clean sheet against Tottenham in their recent outing.
The Blues are scouting for reinforcements ahead of the transfer window, with Sporting Lisbon's Ousmane Diomande and Lille's Leny Yoro also on their radar.
However, recent buzz links Chelsea with Adarabioyo, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old has been pivotal for Marco Silva's Fulham since their Championship promotion in 2022.
With his contract winding down and unlikely to be renewed by Fulham, Chelsea are in the mix alongside Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano weighed in on Chelsea's interest, affirming:
“Understand Chelsea as well as Newcastle are among clubs informed on conditions of the deal to sign Tosin Adarabioyo as free agent.
“Several clubs are asking for conditions of potential free signing, but no formal proposal made. Tosin will take his time to decide his future.”
Securing Adarabioyo would be a coup for Chelsea, bringing much-needed Premier League experience without denting their coffers.
Having started his career at Manchester City, Adarabioyo found his stride at Fulham, tallying 132 appearances and leaving a lasting impression.
With Silva's exit, Chelsea's center-back options include Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, and Chalobah, potentially necessitating a departure to accommodate a new addition in that role.
