Report: Chelsea tracking Hoffenheim's Niklas Sule

Chelsea's scouting team is watching the progress of Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule ahead of a possible signing next summer, according to the London Evening Standard's James Olley.

Sule's agent Karlheinz Forster claimed the Blues tried to tempt Sule this summer, but the player opted to stay in Sinsheim to continue his impressive rise through the ranks. That doesn't mean it will be the end of Chelsea's pursuit, though.

"Yes there was interest (from Chelsea)," Forster said. "The English have made it clear that their interest will remain valid next year."

The 21-year-old made his senior Germany debut in a friendly 2-0 win over Finland last Wednesday, his selection by national team boss Joachim Low coming after Sule's impressive showing in his country's runner-up finish at Rio 2016.

New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte previously deepened his defensive pool with summer deadline-day acquisitions of Marcos Alonso and David Luiz, but eventually has to address replacing John Terry and Gary Cahill, aged 35 and 30 respectively, in the backline. The remaining option is Kurt Zouma, but the Dutch youngster is still working his way back from an ACL injury suffered last February.

In Sule, Chelsea would acquire a considerable physical presence - he stands at 6-foot-5 - and a player whose reading of the game sees him intercept opposition attacks with regularity.

Hoffenheim returns after the international break with a trip to FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday, the same day Chelsea kicks off at Swansea City.