Chelsea are said to be making the first steps towards a move for Wolfsburg and Switzerland defender Ricardo Rodriguez, a player who has hardly been out of the gossip columns in the last couple of years after continuous links to major European clubs.
An optimistic report from the Sun has claimed that Stamford Bridge contact has been established with Rodriguez's agent in a bid to gauge the possibility of a £21m January move.
The tabloid additionally suggests that an approach from Chelsea will see them move ahead of Arsenal in the 'race', with the Gunners allegedly having kept an eye on Rodriguez for a number of months already themselves.
While Arsenal are looking to improve their left-hand side of their defence, where Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs are currently fighting for places, it is said that Chelsea are also keen on bolstering their own squad in that area of the field.
Despite signing Marcos Alonso for around £24m only a few short months ago, the Spaniard remains manager Antonio Conte's only real option in the left wing-back role, especially after Cesar Azpilicueta has successfully transitioned to a new position in the central back three.
Alonso, who formerly turned out for Bolton and Sunderland in the Premier League, has been a revelation and it would remain to be seen if signing an equally expensive option to compete for places would be unsettling for him.
Rodriguez, still only 24-years-old,has been with Wolfsburg since 2012 when he moved from home-town club FC Zurich and went to Euro 2016 and the 2014 World Cup with Switzerland.
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