Chelsea target Jonathan Clauss transfer but Tuchel already has Cesar Azpilicueta replacement

Chelsea are hoping to take advantage of French wing-back Jonathan Clauss entering the final year of his contract with RC Lens. The Blues are said to have made contact with the Ligue 1 club over a £10 million deal in the hope of prising the 29-year-old away from the Estadio Bollaert-Delelis.

Clauss capped off a fantastic journey from the lower leagues of French and German football to fully fledged French international earlier this year, having not featured in a top flight football match until he was 28. In 2021/22, Clauss provided five goals and 11 assists across 37 league matches from wing-back in an impressive season.

Chelsea may even have an advantage in luring the defender, also targeted by Atletico Madrid, after he admitted his affection for the Blues in an interview with RMC. He suggested: "Since I was kid, it’s been Chelsea, and it remains Chelsea."

As a wing-back, it's difficult to think of a player who could displace Reece James from the Chelsea's starting XI and any successful transfer would likely see the Frenchman become back up to the England international. Goal suggest that a move for Clauss could in fact be actioned dependent on Cesar Azpilicueta's future. The Spanish defender could still move to Barcelona, despite having another year left to run on his contract.

However, despite Azpilicueta performing admirably as a wing-back in James' absence last season, it is difficult to see the figures as like-for-like. Chelsea's captain, his leadership not withstanding, plugged a number of gaps for Thomas Tuchel last season. The 32-year-old played in Chelsea's back three as well as on both flanks, in contrast to Clauss, who featured exclusively as a wing-back on the right.

The Blues will be hoping for the arrival of