Chelsea have approached London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to check on the availability of their defender Danny Rose. The Blues are on the lookout for a quality signing after letting Felipe Luis return to Atletico Madrid last week.
Ghana defender Abdul Baba Rahman has been linked continuously with a move to Stamford Bridge. Reports emerged last week suggesting that the club has agreed a deal of £17.5 million. But, the latest reports indicate that the Blues boss Jose Mourinho is looking at Rose as a potential replacement for Luis.
It is reported that the defending Premier League Champions are willing to bid around £15 million for Rose, as Mourinho has currently only two front-line full-backs at his disposal since Luis departure. Rose will help him with options at the back where Cesar Azpilicueta can give him versatility of playing either right-back or left-back.
The 25-year-old Rose was touted by many to be the future England star. But with the emergence of Luke Shaw, the call-up to the national team never happened. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino described him as the best English left-back last season. Spurs owner Daniel Levy is a tough negotiator when it comes to players and will not be selling unless the right bid comes.
One thing in favor of the Blues is the fact that Spurs already have cover at left-back; Wales International Ben Davies was signed by the club last summer from Swansea. The deal for Baba Rahman may still go through if no price can be agreed for Rose. Mourinho is willing to push for the deal to happen before the start of the season this weekend. He has been relatively quiet this transfer window with only the signing of goal keeper Asmir Begovic and the season-long loan deal for Radamel Falcao being the talking points.
Rose now looks set to be the next signing for the Blues unless Levy throws up an absurd number.
