Chelsea have opened talks to sign a replacement for Jadon Sancho during the Club World Cup, according to reports in France.
Sancho was hoping to earn a permanent move to Stamford Bridge after joining the Blues on loan from Manchester United last summer.
Chelsea were open to keeping the winger at the club despite his inconsistent form last season but were unable to reach an agreement with the player during contract negotiations.
The Blues would have had to spend around £25m to keep Sancho but decided instead to pay a £5m penalty and send him back to Manchester United.
Despite this, Enzo Maresca remains keen to strengthen in the wide positions this summer, with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke all available for summer moves.
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French outlet L’Équipe say Chelsea have made contact with Lyon over a deal for Belgium international Malick Fofana.
Fofana enjoyed a promising first season at Lyon following a £17m move from Belgian side Gent last summer.
He featured in Lyon’s Europa League quarter-final clash with Manchester United, which the Red Devils won 7-6 on aggregate.
Chelsea have reportedly asked Lyon about the feasibility of a deal for Fofana, who earned his first international appearance last year.
The interest from Chelsea comes after fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest expressed interest in signing Fofana, who turned 20 in March.
The highly-rated winger is contracted to Lyon until the summer of 2028 but it has been suggested the Ligue 1 side could be open to a sale.
Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season and won the Conference League, are currently in the United States for the Club World Cup.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s first group game against MLS side Los Angeles FC, Maresca confirmed he was planning to sign a new winger this summer.
‘Jadon is not with us so for sure that is a position [winger] we need to do something,’ Maresca told reporters.
‘We have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty [George] only as the proper wingers so something for sure is going to happen.
‘When the transfer window is open, for sure, we can do something.’
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