Atletico Madrid are reportedly contemplating an approach for an out-of-favour Chelsea player during the January transfer window.
Diego Simeone's side can be relatively satisfied with the start to the new La Liga campaign, remaining unbeaten in eight matches albeit with four draws.
However, the manner of their 4-0 defeat at Benfica in the Champions League earlier this week highlighted that they arguably require more strength in depth in defensive areas.
The versatile and attack-minded Samuel Lino was deployed at left wing-back on that occasion, his fourth different position this campaign.
While the 24-year-old offers a threat going forward, Benfica were able to have joy in their attacking areas, and two goals were netted in second half.
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Simeone taking interest in Chelsea defender
According to reporter Ekrem Konur, who was commenting on X, Simeone holds an interest in adding Ben Chilwell to his ranks in the Spanish capital.
Atletico are no strangers to doing business with their Chelsea counterparts having signed Conor Gallagher in the summer after a prolonged saga to get a deal over the line for the England international.
Konur claims that Atletico are willing to take the same approach to sign Chilwell, aware that less negotiating will likely be required to secure a deal for the 27-year-old.
Chelsea spent the majority of the last transfer window being open to offers for the left-back, new head coach Enzo Maresca having decided that Chilwell is not an ideal fit to the system that he is trying to use at Stamford Bridge.
Chilwell has since been integrated back into the first-team fold having failed to find a new club, featuring for 45 minutes in a recent EFL Cup tie against Barrow.
Nevertheless, Maresca suggested at a press conference earlier this week that he has no regrets over not selecting Chilwell in his squad for the league phase of the Europa Conference League.
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What fee would be required?
Atletico would realistically look to strike a loan deal for Chilwell given the money that they shelled out on various players before the end of August.
Unless an interested club is prepared to pay in excess of £20m for Chilwell in January, co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are likely to be open to that arrangement.
Darren Plant
