Chelsea are bidding to solve their defensive troubles with Senegal defender Papy Djilobodji as a switch from Nantes nears completion.

The Premier League champions have conceded nine goals in four games in accruing four points to sit eight adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Chelsea’s pursuit of John Stones has been repelled by Everton and reports in the French media say three million euros (£2.2 million) deal for Djilobodji is near completion. It is less than 10 per cent of the sum offered for Stones.

The 27-year-old Djilobodji has one year remaining on his contract with Nantes and is flying to London for a medical, according to reports in France.

Djilobodji has reportedly been linked with Celtic and Trabzonspor in Turkey, who had a two million euro offer rejected in the last few days.

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