Manchester United will consider a bid for Trevoh Chalobah if the club are unable to sign Matthijs de Ligt or Jarrad Branthwaite.
Chalobah has been informed that he can leave Chelsea this summer with the Blues keen to cash in on the academy graduate.
The 25-year-old has been left out of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, though is open to fighting for his future at Stamford Bridge.
However, Chelsea feel that Enzo Maresca’s squad has sufficient depth at centre-back, following the summer arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham, and Chalobah is set to be a casualty of the new manager’s first transfer window in charge.
Chelsea value Chalobah in excess of £25m and the defender does not want to leave for a club not competing in European competition. That stance could end the hopes of Crystal Palace and Fulham, who have each been heavily linked, but Manchester United have emerged as a potential option.
The Red Devils have monitored Chalobah’s situation at Chelsea and have a long-standing interest in the versatile defender.
Journalist Ben Jacobs is reporting that United will consider Chalobah should they sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka and fail to sign De Ligt or Branthwaite as a new centre-back. The Chelsea defender’s ability to cover both right-back and centre-back appeals to those at Old Trafford. Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah is also on the club’s radar.