Chelsea are ready to meet Leicester’s whopping £85m valuation for the transfer of Wesley Fofana but will attempt a second lowball offer

CHELSEA are ready to meet Leicester’s £85m valuation for Wesley Fofana.

The centre-back is keen on a move but the Blues bosses need to raise their initial bid to force the Foxes’ hand.

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The London giants made the 21-year-old Frenchman a £60million offer but his club won’t budge from his world-record asking price.

Chelsea could test the waters with another sub-£85m bid. But owner Todd Boehly is determined to land the former Saint-Etienne man.

Boss Brendan Rodgers doesn’t want to sell but would consider an offer equivalent to the £85million fee Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019 – a world record for a defender.

Chelsea are willing to pay that but hope Leicester can strike a deal for less given the need to raise transfer funds.

Stamford Bridge boss Thomas Tuchel has to add numbers at the back after watching Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger leave on a free transfer.

But captain Cesar Azpilicueta has agreed a new two-year deal after Barcelona ended their pursuit.

And the 32-year-old Spaniard said: “I’m delighted to be extending my stay at Chelsea – my home.

“It’s been almost ten years since I arrived here, so I really feel the love and I’m really looking forward to the new project.”

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Boehly adds: “We are very pleased that our captain has once again shown his exemplary commitment. There is still so much to do together.”

The Blues raised their asking price for Azpilicueta after Barca beat them against Raphinha and Jules Kounde.

Chelsea signed Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £35m – but missed out on Kounde and Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe.

They are on the verge of a £62m deal for Brighton full-back Marc Cucurella, 24.

But that move is contingent on Blues centre-back Levi Colwill, 19, going the other way.

Chelsea are yet to decide whether to leave Colwill permanently – which Brighton prefers – or loan him out.

In any case, his future appears to be away from Chelsea as he wasn’t even assigned a squad number last night.

Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, who completed his £15million move from Aston Villa yesterday, has been given the No 30 shirt.

And Boehly hinted that the midfielder could be ready this season.

Boehly said: “Carney is one of the most exciting young players in Europe.

“We are delighted to add such a talented personality to our squad for the new season.”