Chelsea targeting Real Madrid defender

Chelsea face Championship side Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. 

Maurucio Pochettino’s side will be hoping to progress to the next round of the competition, and they will be boosted by their recent upturn in form.

The Blues have struggled for consistency all season but wins over Crystal Palace and Luton Town in their past two Premier League games will give Pochettino cause for optimism going into the game against Preston.

Ahead of the game, Chelsea are said to be chasing a La Liga defender.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes via Football Transfers, the West London outfit are considering a move for Real Madrid full-back Ferland Mendy.

The report claims that the out of favour defender has attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid are said to be interested in Bayern’s Alphonso Davies, who is out of contract in 2025.

Mendy is said to be a target for both Chelsea and Manchester United

The German side could therefore be pressured into selling the Canadian this year in order to avoid losing him for free.

With that in mind Mendy, who has played a bit-part role so far this term, could be allowed to leave the Spanish capital.

Mendy, 28, joined Real from French side Lyon back in 2019 and has since made a total of 147 appearances for the Spanish side across all competitions.

Chelsea currently have three natural left-backs in their first team squad, namely Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, and Ian Maatsen.

Chilwell has struggled severely with injuries throughout his Blues career, though, while Cucurella has failed to impress since joining Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022.

Levi Colwill, naturally a central defender, has therefore played at left-back for the majority of the season so far, while Maatsen is said to be close to joining German side Borussia Dortmund.

That has prompted the Blues to search for new left-backs, and the report claims that they are eyeing a move for Mendy this year.