Chelsea have been given the go-ahead signal to sign Jonathan Clauss from RC Lens this summer, according to reports.
Clauss has just one year left on his current deal at Lens and it has been revealed that he will not extend his contract at the club.
The 29-year-old defender is coming off the back of a superb season for the French outfit, where he scored five goals and assisted 11 in all competitions.
Such performances have attracted interest from the likes of the Blues, with a move away from Ligue 1 now looking likely.
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As reported by the Express, Chelsea have been given the ‘green light’ to sign the defender this summer.
This comes after Lens have already acquired their replacement for Clauss, signing Jimmy Cabot from Angers on Wednesday.
There is believed to have already been contact between Chelsea and the player over a potential move, who could look for a cheaper deal considering the remaining duration of his contract.
Other reports have said that Lens value him at around £10 million, a good fee in the eyes of Thomas Tuchel’s side given the player’s form over the last couple of seasons.
Atletico Madrid are also believed to be interested in the French international, and his ability to play both right back and right wing-back is said to be of interest to Blues boss Tuchel and Atletico’s Diego Simeone.
If Clauss was to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer, he could come in as Cesar Azpilicueta’s replacement, with the captain being heavily linked with a move to Barcelona after a decade at Chelsea.
Azpilicueta was due to leave the club this summer at the end of his contract, but a year extension was activated after the Spaniard reached a certain number of appearances last season.
However Barcelona are still interested in bringing him to the Nou Camp this summer, and they are hopeful that Chelsea will allow him and Marcos Alonso to leave for a ‘very, very affordable price’.
Alonso, whose career started in La Liga at Real Madrid and will see his contract at Chelsea expire next summer, has revealed that he would like to play in the top flight of Spanish football, having just completed his sixth season in west London.
He said: “I would love to play in La Liga, all my life I have wanted to play and be here in Spain, but the circumstances have been different and not everything has depended on me.
"At the moment I am focused on this season and what has to be, will be."
Topics: Jonathan Clauss, Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Football, Transfers
Robert Calcutt