Chelsea now 'optimistic' £70m star will sign at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are expected to return with a fourth bid for Leicester City star Wesley Fofana, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Blues have already seen three offers rejected for the young centre-back, but Phillips reckons there’s a growing “optimism” that the deal will get done before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Following the departures of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea are in desperate need of central defenders.

Kalidou Koulibaly has already arrived from Napoli, but Thomas Tuchel is still short at the back, which has forced him to start Reece James in the back three in the last two games.

As a result, the Londoners are chasing the services of Fofana, who wants to leave Leicester and is now training with the club’s Under-23s after missing training in an attempt to force a move.

Chelsea have already seen three bids knocked back, the third being around £70m, but Phillips expects another offer to come in and is confident that Leicester will lower their £85m asking price in order to compromise with Fofana, who is clearly desperate to leave.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m told that Chelsea will go back in for a fourth bid and there is optimism from my sources that the deal will still get done.

“They expect Leicester to drop their demands slightly, given Fofana is so desperate to leave and he’s doing all he can his end to do that right now.”

Whether it’s in Chelsea blue or Leicester colours, it’s incredibly unlikely that Fofana will be in action at Stamford Bridge this weekend when the two sides in conversation meet in west London.

For him to make his debut for Tuchel’s side, he would have to undergo a medical and be registered by the deadline on Friday, which looks a tall order considering Chelsea haven’t