Chelsea are reportedly ready to abandon their pursuit of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and will instead target Lazio centre-back Stefan de Vrij.

That’s according to Neil Moxley of the Sunday People (h/t the Daily Mirror), who noted the Blues’ efforts to sign Koulibaly have “stalled” due to Napoli’s £45 million valuation. De Vrij is said to be available for around £15 million, and Chelsea are reportedly ready to “press ahead quickly” to get the 24-year-old on board.

The centre of defence is an area of the team new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will need to address, especially after the frailties that were so frequently on display last term. Here is a look at why De Vrij might be the man to stiffen up this section of the side:

De Vrij’s 2015-16 season was curtailed after just two Serie A games, as he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. Per Moxley, he’s close to full fitness once again following a period of recuperation.

As ESPN FC’s David Amoyal noted here, the centre-back was badly missed and is absolutely vital to the Serie A side:

The Dutchman will be hopeful of making a strong return, though. At his best, the former Feyenoord man is an exceptional defender, and he excelled in his debut term for Lazio, helping the club secure a UEFA Champions League berth. His tactical awareness and sharp focus would certainly appeal to Conte.

While £15 million could potentially represent a bargain for the Blues, signing a player who has been out of action for almost a year would be a big gamble. De Vrij is still young and still has time to fully recover from his injury; it’s at this stage of his career where consistency will be key, though, meaning a stay at the Stadio Olimpico would be a sensible decision.

 

Everton Agree Axel Witsel Fee

According to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Chelsea are set to miss out on Axel Witsel, with Everton having reportedly agreed a £25 million fee for the player.

Now the Toffees are said to be “waiting for the Belgium international to commit to their contract offer.” Per Jones, the Zenit St Petersburg midfielder has also attracted the attentions of the Blues, Juventus and Inter Milan after he told his current club that he wants to move on.

The 27-year-old moved to the Russian club from Benfica in 2012 and has maintained his reputation as one of European football’s most authoritative central midfield players. Here is a look at what he’s capable of producing at his very best:

At the start of the summer, a player like Witsel would have been at the top of Conte’s list. Last term, the Blues were regularly bullied in the centre of the pitch, with Nemanja Matic—a tower of strength in the 2014-15 term—out of form along with the majority of the Chelsea side. Witsel would have aided in these physical battles.

Indeed, the Belgian is a player who looks tailor-made for English football. Witsel relishes a tackle, is strong in the air and is very smart in possession, too. 

However, following their acquisition of former Leicester City star N’Golo Kante, Chelsea have addressed the lack of dynamism in the middle of the park to great effect. Witsel may have been an ideal partner for the France international, although Conte will be hoping Kante’s energy can bring the best out of Matic once again.

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