Chelsea are looking to sign at least one of seven defensive targets this January to address their centre-back concerns, according to Simon Phillips.

The Blues have identified Benfica duo Antonio Silva and Tomas Araujo, Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, and Bournemouth pair Dean Huijsen and Ilia Zabarnyi as potential signings.

With Wesley Fofana sidelined and doubts over the performances of Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, Chelsea are eager to bolster their defensive depth. Tosin Adarabioyo, who joined in the summer, has shown promise but hasn’t become a regular under manager Enzo Maresca.

If deals can’t be secured, Chelsea might recall Trevoh Chalobah as a fallback option. Players like Silva, Diomande, and Huijsen are considered top young talents, while Premier League-proven options such as Guehi and Huijsen could come at a higher cost.

Chelsea’s pursuit reflects their ambition to strengthen a key area, particularly with injury concerns and underwhelming performances affecting their backline.