Chelsea suffer setback in race to sign France star after warning from his boss

Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Monaco defender Badiashile despite manager Graham Potter playing coy over the Frenchman’s potential arrival.

The Blues are keen to strengthen in the January window as they push for a top-four place and have quickly identified the 21-year-old centre-back as an ideal target to bolster their back-line.

Badiashile is capable of playing in a back four or as either the central or left-sided centre-back in a back three, which is the formation Potter favours.

A fee of around £35m has been discussed with the Ligue 1 club, though there are suggestions they will hold out for considerably more than that.

Monaco boss Philippe Clement has now warned Chelsea that they are not the only club interested in signing Badiashile.

‘I don’t think there is only one club that has approached Benoit Badiashile,’ he said.

‘It’s not just Chelsea. There has been a lot of interest in several of our players over the past six months. This is also the case with Benoit.’

Meanwhile, Chelsea head coach Potter gave a coy response when asked about the Blues’ attempts to bring Badiashile to Stamford Bridge.

‘My answer is I don’t speak about anyone that isn’t a Chelsea player,’ Potter said.

‘There are lots of people who get linked to this club and I’d be wasting your time and mine if I responded to every one.

‘I always say the club’s responsibility is to try to improve the team but my job is to try to improve the players we have here, and the team. That’s what I’ll be focused on.’

Chelsea are back in action on New Year’s Day when they travel to face Nottingham Forest.

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