Brighton interested in signing Chelsea defender

Brighton & Hove Albion have expressed interest in signing Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo, according to the Daily Mail.

The news comes just seven months after the Blues acquired him on a free transfer from Fulham as they sought to bolster their defence.

The 27-year-old was behind Wesley Fofana in the pecking order, but an injury to the Frenchman has allowed Adarabioyo to become a mainstay in the starting XI.

However, Brighton are keen on securing the centre-back in a permanent deal.

The move could give Chelsea an immediate return on their minimal investment in Adarabioyo, potentially bolstering their financial standing under the Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Chelsea could command a fee of around £20 million for the defender, but it is unclear if they will agree to such a deal in the middle of the season.

Axel Disasi is on the chopping block after some shoddy performances, while the oft-injured Benoit Badiashile is on the treatment table again.

Fofana is out with a long-term injury, and Renato Veiga is looking for a way to go on loan, leaving Chelsea in a mini-crisis.

The Blues had to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace, making a deal to sign Eagles defender Marc Guehi complicated.

It would be unwise to let Adarabioyo move. However, Chelsea’s sporting directors have shown they are not the sharpest tools in the box after some ponderous squad-building decisions over the past two years.

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Chelsea needed to revamp a defence that conceded a staggering 63 goals last season but spent the summer adding more unnecessary youngsters to their squad.

They are now in a defensive dilemma and could be forced to look at second-string options in the last days of the transfer window, especially if they sell Adarabioyo.