CHELSEA are tracking Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam are ready to make an audacious £24 million swoop in January.
Ghoulam, 25 was a summer target for the Blues but decided to stay in Naples to play Champions League football this season.
Despite seven straight wins and sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is still keen to add to his defensive options and has identified the full back as an alternative to Marcos Alonso.
Conte has already added Alonso, David Luiz to his defensive ranks but was snubbed by Ghoulam’s team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly who also opted to stay at the San Paolo stadium.
The Algerian full back moved to Napoli from St Etienne in 2014 and his flexibility is music to Conte’s ears as the defender can play in either a back three or four.
The Blues are ready to test the Italians resolve during the window with another big money bid, however Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri will be desperate to hold on to one of his key defenders.
Sarri, in his second season in charge in Naples will not want any of his star players head's turned next month as the club face a fight to return to next seasons Champions League lying seventh in Serie A.
Ghoulam, 25 has made 17 appearances and provided three league assists already this season as Napoli enter an important few weeks that could shape their season.
The Gli Azzurri face a crunch league game at home to Inter Milan and four days later go to Benfica looking to secure progress to the knock out stages of the Champions League sitting top of group B.
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