Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Zenit Saint Petersburg over a deal for defender Ezequiel Garay.
The Premier League champions are exploring other centre-back options after acknowledging that they may struggle to sign John Stones before next week’s transfer deadline, according to Sky Sports.
Everton have knocked back three bids, the latest of which was believed to be worth around £30m, for the England international and vowed that they will not be selling him this summer.
Garay represents a cheaper alternative, but one with great pedigree having starred in the Argentina team which reached the World Cup final in Brazil last year.
The two clubs are believed to be in negotiations over the 28-year-old, with Zenit supposedly willing to sell as they need to reduce their foreign quota.
Garay, who joined the Russians from Benfica in 2014, has previously been linked with Manchester United, but the Red Devils no longer seem to be in the market for a centre-back.
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