Breaking News - Chelsea On The VERGE Of Signing POWERFUL CB

Having signed Mohamed Salah from them on loan with an obligation to buy, AS Roma are set to battle Premier League champions Chelsea for one of their defensive targets.

Reports have claimed the Blues are eyeing a swoop for Antonio Rudiger as Jose Mourinho does not want to be left disappointed if Everton succeed in not selling him John Stones. The Englishman has been chased by Chelsea throughout the summer, and the west Londoners have had two bid rebuffed already by the Toffees.

Mourinho is now keen on Stuttgart’s Rudiger as a potential alternative should the Stones’ deal fail to materialise. Sky Italia per talkSPORT also said Roma are interested in the Germany international defender but there initial offer was rejected by Stuttgart.

The Serie A side are now set to return to Germany with a lucrative offer for Rudiger this weekend, with the belief that the former Borussia Dortmund youth will be tempted to move to the Rome-based club.

TalkSPORT reckons the Blues could also lodge a bid in the region of £20m for the centre half in the “coming days”, but Roma may act more swiftly than Jose Mourinho’s side as they seek to bring in a replacement for Alessandro Romanogli who joined AC Milan recently.

Rudiger’s contract at the Mercedes Benz Arena runs out in 2017 and the player has not made any comment as to whether he would be willing to leave the Bundesliga this summer.

Chelsea’s fragilities in defence were further exposed today against Manchester City as the Citizens ran out 3-0 winners courtesy of Sergio Aguero’s 32nd minute goal and a goal apiece from Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho. Jose Mourinho will now be looking to amplify his defence as soon as possible in order to not lose their Premier League crown this season.