Chelsea eyeing Thiago Silva's old PSG centre-back partner to replace Antonio Rudiger

Chelsea have drawn up a four-man shortlist of potential centre-back targets this summer with one of Thiago Silva’s old Paris Saint-Germain teammates being considered, according to reports.

The west Londoners are in need of defensive reinforcements this summer with both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave on free transfers when their contracts expire at the end of the season.

That duo are expected to join Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively while Cesar Azpilicueta could also be on the move, with the Spaniard linked with a switch to Camp Nou.

Thomas Tuchel is therefore looking to bolster his back-line during the summer transfer window with a new left-sided centre-back his top priority.

A few potential targets have already been reported on, such as Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and RB Leipzig’s young defender Josko Gvardiol, but a name familiar to both Tuchel and Thiago Silva is also on their wish list.

According to Goal.com, the Blues are keeping tabs on PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe and could make a move for the France international.

The 26-year-old came through the academy in Paris and made his debut as a teenager in a defence that was marshalled by Silva, while he also spent nearly two-and-a-half years playing under Tuchel and really developed under the German.

Kimpembe has played 28 times in Ligue 1 this season en route to the title and PSG would be loathe to lose him, though he is about to enter the final two years of his contract.

Chelsea have tried to sign the defender in the past – before Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge – and have continued to keep tabs on him ever since.

Gvardiol, however, appears to be Chelsea’s preferred choice for the role despite his tender years – the Croatian is only 20