Chelsea have reportedly stolen a march on Real Madrid and Arsenal in the race to sign 18-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is valued at around £40m by the Dutch giants.
Enzo Maresca's defensive ranks have been hit by injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile in recent weeks, and there are fears that the former could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.
Fofana recently rejected Maresca's suggestion that he might not play again before the campaign is up, affirming that he is targeting a return for March, but there are no guarantees that he will be back by the spring.
Alongside the injuries to Badiashile and Fofana, exiled left-back Ben Chilwell will leave the club either this month or in the summer, and Axel Disasi has also been tipped to make a swift exit amid links with Serie A.
As captain Reece James cannot be trusted to stay fit either, defensive reinforcements may be high on the Blues' agenda, and CaughtOffside claims that the Blues are at the head of the queue to sign Hato.
Chelsea told to pay £40m for Hato?
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The 2006-born defender has already played 90 times for Ajax, registering four goals and eight assists in the process, while coming up with three goals and five assists from 29 matches in the current campaign.
Hato has played across the backline during the embryonic stages of his career, but the 18-year-old has exclusively featured on the left-hand side this term, both as a wing-back and out-and-out left-back.
The Netherlands international could therefore serve as a direct replacement for Chilwell at Stamford Bridge, and both Arsenal and Real Madrid have supposedly fallen behind Chelsea in the race for the teenage 'prodigy'.
Hato's youth and versatility apparently makes him a highly attractive prospect for the Blues, who will reportedly have to fork out between £40m and £45m for a player that is still contracted to Ajax for another three-and-a-half seasons.
Ajax's technical director Alex Kroes is reportedly keen to see Hato remain in Amsterdam for the long term, but he accepts that the club would not be in a position to turn down such an offer.
Which players could Chelsea sell for Hato funds?
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A £40m or £45m package should not be problematic for a club of Chelsea's financial ilk, but sales may still have to be made first as the club tread carefully around Financial Fair Play regulations.
As well as the aforementioned Chilwell and Disasi, Chelsea are also working to find a new club for Cesare Casadei, one of three midfielders who could seek pastures new in the next few weeks.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka have also been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window, and the long-term future of Christopher Nkunku remains clouded in uncertainty too.
Over the summer, the club loaned out no fewer than 13 players, a few of whom - namely Kepa Arrizabalaga, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah - could soon be let go permanently.
Chelsea demolished Morecambe 5-0 in the third round of the FA Cup at the weekend and return to Premier League action at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday evening.
Ben Knapton
