Chelsea now'closer and closer'to signing£36m star at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are getting “closer and closer” to meeting Leicester‘s valuation for Wesley Fofana, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Blues have made the £36m-rated ace their top centre-back target this summer as Thomas Tuchel looks to fill the void left by departed pair Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea are preparing to launch a third bid for Fofana after their opening two offers fell short of Leicester’s £85m asking price.

The report claims that Brendan Rodgers’ side want to keep the promising defender, who only signed a contract extension back in March, days before he made his return from a broken leg sustained in pre-season.

As a result, Fofana still has around five years remaining on his current deal, although Sky Sports believe that Chelsea’s third bid is expected to test the Foxes’ resolve.

And Phillips reckons the Blues are getting “closer” to Leicester’s valuation of the Frenchman, who started their draw with Brentford last weekend despite the ongoing saga.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “In terms of the fee and the deal, Chelsea have been talking all week again and are roughly about £10m apart in the fee, which Chelsea are now trying to make up in add ons and are also trying to make the deal more favourable for Leicester with the structure of it.

“Chelsea’s latest proposal should reach around £80m, but I still think Leicester are going to push for that £85m.

“So, it’s getting closer and closer as the days go on, but Chelsea just need to find that final fee that Leicester will accept.”

Under the circumstances, the young defender produced a professional showing against the Bees, even though it wasn’t enough to help Rodgers’ side start with three points after they squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2.

According to WhoScored, Fofana was Leicester’s fifth-best player, completing more passes than anyone else on the pitch (86), figures that would surely please a Chelsea side that like to play out from the back, but he also made an impressive five interceptions and two clearances.

Fofana nearly topped his performance with his first Premier League goal, only to see his towering header crash off the post and away to safety, which proved pivotal as Brentford levelled just four minutes from time.