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According to The Sun, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is eyeing up a £70m swoop for Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell and plans to make a move when the Blues' transfer ban is over.

What's the word, then?

Well, as things stand, the west Londoners won't be able to sign new players until next summer as a result of their transfer ban.

However, with a successful appeal, the Blues could be back wheeling and dealing by the January window.

Chilwell has emerged as a transfer target with Marcos Alonso currently considering his future at Stamford Bridge, which would leave Emerson as Lampard's only other option at left-back.

Barcelona and Manchester City have expressed an interest in the 22-year-old Chilwell, whilst Atletico Madrid had a huge £71m bid rejected by the Foxes for the England international.

Chelsea's full-back positions would be sorted for the long-term

If the Blues can get Chilwell to west London, their full-back areas will be sorted for the foreseeable future.

Chilwell could hold down the left flank for years, whilst on the other side, 19-year-old right-back Reece James looks a real talent and a player who Lampard has already given assurances to that he will get minutes as Crystal Palace, Brighton, Newcastle and Bournemouth sniffed around the teenager this summer.

Chelsea even rejected a £25m bid from the Eagles for the man who made it into the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Season last term for his efforts whilst on loan with Wigan.

The Blues' current starting right-back is 29-year-old Cesar Azpilicueta, and that area will surely need freshening up soon given the Spaniard's age and the fact that Davide Zappacosta is his current backup - a player who simply isn't good enough, hence Chelsea's decision to put him up for sale.

With 22-year-old Chilwell and 19-year-old James on either side of their backline, Chelsea's full-back positions will be sorted for the long-term.

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