Chelsea have reportedly decided to sign a new full-back in January after it was confirmed that Ben Chilwell will undergo major knee surgery.
Chilwell had scored three goals in six Premier League appearances before the Blues met Juventus at Stamford Bridge in the penultimate round of the Champions League group stages, and despite a 4-0 win for Thomas Tuchel's side, that evening turned out to be a costly one for the England international.
The 25-year-old was forced off the field at the end of November and will not return to action this season after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament, which requires a major operation.
According to The Mirror, Tuchel wants to find a replacement to bolster the numbers in his squad, and the German manager has blocked loan offers for defender Malang Sarr from AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli.
Sarr can operate at left-back, while the Blues also have Marcos Alonso, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic, who can all operate in a wing-back role, with Emerson Palmieri currently out on loan at Lyon.
Last time out against Aston Villa, Tuchel played a 3-4-2-1 system with Alonso and Reece James operating as the wing-backs.
Sammy Wynne
