Chelsea report: Blues identify two defensive targets to replace injured Reece James

Graham Potter
Chelsea manager Graham Potter pictured ahead of his team's defeat by Newcastle (Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea have identified two potential defensive targets for the January transfer window, according to reports.

The Blues are looking to bolster their options at the back next month after Reece James suffered a knee injury during their 2-0 victory over Bournemouth in midweek.

That win saw Graham Potter's side move to within six points of the top four, while they have a game in hand on some of the teams above them in the Premier League table.

And Chelsea are looking to boost their chances of Champions League qualification by adding further strength in depth to their squad in January.

Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic is one player on Graham Potter's wish list, according to a report by Sky Sports.

Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in the Croatia international, who was part of Zlatko Dalic's squad at World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Meanwhile La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Chelsea are keeping close tabs on Denzel Dumfries, the Inter and Netherlands wing-back.

Dumfries, who is valued at £24.8m by Transfermarkt, has also been scouted by Manchester United, who could sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the start of 2023.

Chelsea could be set for a busy month in the transfer market, with the west London outfit thought to be in pole position to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.

Chelsea will return to action against Nottingham Forest this weekend, before they do battle with Manchester City in a crunch clash next Thursday.

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The Blues are thought to be in pole position to land Declan Rice, although a deal will not go through until next summer at the earliest.

Chelsea have been told they will need to spend big to sign Josko Gvardiol, who excelled for Croatia at World Cup 2022.

And the west Londoners have been tipped to renew their interest in Rafael Leao in the January window.

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).