CHELSEA are reportedly considering a summer swoop for Lens star Jonathan Clauss.
That’s after the France international admitted he “dreams” of joining the world champions.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is eyeing reinforcements after Todd Boehly completed his £4.25billion takeover.
And he is hoping for more options at wing-back after last season’s title hopes were hit by injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James.
Emerson Palmieri could return from his Lyon loan to compete with Chilwell on the left flank, with Marcos Alonso set to join Barcelona.
But Tuchel is not convinced that either forward Callum Hudson-Odoi or the ageing Cesar Azpilicueta – another Barcelona target – can provide adequate cover for James on the right.
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And La Voix du Nord claims the Blues boss is now weighing up a bid for highly-rated Clauss.
The 29-year-old has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s best defenders since joining Lens from Arminia Bielefeld in 2020.
Clauss has been named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the past two seasons.
And he made his France debut in March against Ivory Coast, with the ace picking up a further three caps during the recent Nations League campaign.
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Clauss scored five goals and bagged a further 11 assists as Lens finished seventh in the table this term.
And his contract, which expires next summer, includes a release clause worth just £8.5million.
Atletico Madrid and Marseille are both said to be lining up offers.
But Clauss only has eyes for Chelsea after revealing last year that he “dreams” of playing at Stamford Bridge.
Clauss declared: “Since I was a kid, it’s been Chelsea, and it remains Chelsea.
“Would I like to discover a new country? Let’s say England.
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“But I’m not really desperate to discover new countries.
“I’ll go where I’m taken or I’ll stay where I am. But yes, England, it makes you dream.”