Chelsea are set to make a £43m bid for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and are ‘confident’ of striking a deal, according to reports in Spain.

The Club World Cup holders are searching the transfer market for centre-back options after Levi Colwill’s major injury blow.

Colwill, 22, required surgery on a serious knee injury and is now expected to miss most of the season.

Chelsea have already spent over £150m this summer and the Blues are still working on deals for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons and Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

But the Colwill injury could lead to even more Chelsea investment, with Football Espana claiming they are lining up an offer for Barcelona’s Araujo.

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