Chelsea can sign their very own Virgil van Dijk if Todd Boehly completes £68m transfer

Chelsea could sign their very own Virgil van Dijk in Wesley Fofana if Jamie Redknapp's verdict on the Frenchman is to be believed.

The Blues have lost centre-backs Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger to Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, this summer, considerably tweaking Thomas Tuchel's backline ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. So far, Senegal star Kalidou Koulibaly is the only defensive reinforcement to arrive at Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window but football.london understands that the west Londoners are now considering making a move for Leicester City centre-half Wesley Fofana, with contact to the former Saint Etienne man's entourage expected to be made in the coming days.

Fofana, who has a contract with the Foxes until the summer of 2027, has established himself as one of the Premier League's most promising young defenders since joining from Les Verts two years ago - earning himself comparisons to Liverpool stalwart van Dijk and Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand in the process.

Speaking about the 21-year-old to Sky Sports earlier this year, former Reds midfielder Redknapp said: "Fofana is one of those when you see a Rio Ferdinand coming through, a Virgil Van Dijk, he is in that quality. He is a great athlete, a great footballer, he can play for any club he wants to in the future, he is an exceptional talent.”

Redknapp has also previously tipped the France Under-21 international - who is valued by the Foxes at €80 million (£68.4million) according to RMC Sport - to become the world's most expensive defender when he does leave Leicester, claiming that he will cost more than the £80 million Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire back in 2019.

“Harry Maguire was the most expensive defender. I’d be amazed if Fofana doesn’t break that record in a few years, he’s that good,” he told Sky Sports last year.

“Leicester fans won’t want to hear it because they want to keep him. We’ve had some brilliant defenders [in the Premier League], Rio Ferdinand, Vincent Kompany. Virgil van Dijk is the number one now when he’s fit again.

“But this young man is going to be the best in a few years, the best in Europe. He’s so assured, so confident, so commanding. I’m a massive fan.”