Chelsea have reportedly turned their right-back hunt to trying to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro.
While Reece James is regarded as first choice in that position at Stamford Bridge, the England international has suffered with a number of injuries over the past 13 months.
Although Cesar Azpilicueta has generally been available to deputise for the academy graduate, the club legend is now 33 years of age and no longer considered a viable option at wing-back.
With Azpilicueta being rested versus Manchester City on Sunday, Trevoh Chalobah was selected at right-back, highlighting the issues that Graham Potter faces in that area of the pitch.
As a result, Chelsea have been linked with a number of alternatives, including Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries and Celtic's Josip Juranovic.
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However, according to A Bola, Chelsea have now set their sights on trying to secure a deal for Porro before the end of the month.
The 23-year-old has been a regular in the Sporting side this campaign, making a total of 14 starts and four substitute appearances in all competitions.
Having established himself as a key man with the Portuguese giants, Porro has been heavily linked with a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur either side of the turn of the year.
While Antonio Conte already has three options at wing-back, parting ways with one of Emerson Royal, Matt Doherty or Djed Spence would make a deal for Porro a realistic possibility.
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Nevertheless, Sporting are said to have little interest in selling Porro for anything less than his release clause, which is set at £39.7m.
Porro still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract, resulting in Sporting being able to hold a firm stance over a potential sale.
Manchester City are in a position where they can re-sign the player through a buy-back clause, although that is something which is highly unlikely to be activated now that Rico Lewis has emerged as competition for the likes of Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker.
With Porro said to be interested in signing for Spurs, Chelsea effectively remain as outsiders at this stage, finding themselves in a similar situation to what they face with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Despite holding a strong interest in a player that his club value at €100m (£87.8m), Mudryk allegedly favours a transfer to Arsenal, who are yet to miss his asking price.
Darren Plant
