Chelsea could join the race for Southampton defender

Chelsea have been linked with moves to sign a new defender this January transfer window.

The recent report revealed the Blues could enter the race to sign Southampton’s Star Kyle Walker-Peters.

This comes as ‘there is no sign of him penning a new contract’ at Southampton.

Also talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook said that the Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino may profit from the pursuit as a winter switch would not come as a shock.

Chelsea may be without James Reece until March after he sustained a hamstring injury last month.

The Blues captain’s extensive absences throughout the season have resulted in Malo Gusto, who sealed a £26.3million switch from Lyon 12 months ago, regularly filling in, but Walker-Peters could emerge as a Pochettino target in the coming weeks.

Walker-Peters, a right-back, is in his final year-and-a-half of his £20,000-per-week contract at St Mary’s, and the Saints will be willing to cash in on him instead of losing him for free in the summer.

It is believed that Southampton placed a £20million price tag on Walker-Peters when he attracted interest from Fulham ahead of the season, but a switch to Craven Cottage failed to happen.