SHARE

As things stand, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has Marcos Alonso as the only fit recognised left-back at his disposal at Stamford Bridge.

That comes after Ben Chilwell picked up an injury in his side’s Champions League win over Juventus last month and has been sidelined since then.

On Tuesday, the Blues confirmed the England international will have to go under the knife and is set to miss the rest of the season, meaning this could force the west London club to bring in a new left-back in the winter market.

Calciomercato state the European champions have already tested the ground for AC Milan star Theo Hernández in recent days.

It’s claimed the Premier League side have contacted the ‘strong’ fullback’s agent, to see if there is a room for negotiating his transfer in the winter market.

However, the ‘attack’ made by by Chelsea was ‘rejected’ by the Rossoneri, whose response was ‘peremptory’.

The France international’s contract expires in 2024 and is in talks with the Serie A side to extend it until 2026. These contacts have been going on for two months.

If Chelsea want to take Hernández away from the San Siro in January, then an ‘offer of €60m would be needed’ to convince Milan chiefs, Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara.

These demands have seen Tuchel’s side shift their focus on Everton’s Lucas Digne, who is not favoured by the Toffees manager, Rafael Benítez.