Stamford Bridge side chase Ajax right-back.
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Chelsea have joined a growing queue of clubs interested in young Ajax defender Ricardo van Rhijn according to the Daily Express.
The 22 year old Dutch international has risen to the fore following the departure from the Amsterdam Arena of Gregory van der Wiel and is now the subject of interest from Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan and is seen by Jose Mourinho as the ideal man to fill the Blues right-back slot.
Spaniard Cesar Azpilicueta had a solid first season at Stamford Bridge but has thus far this season been frozen out of Premier League action, with Branislav Ivanovic used in the wide defensive role and now Mourinho has set his sights on Van Rhijn.
This source claims that the adaptable defender, who can also play at centre-back, is available for around £7m, a fee that should not pose a problem for the West London side.
Ricardo van Rhijn has made 64 appearances for Ajax since making his debut in December 2011, helping play a key part in the club’s Eredivisie title success last term. The rangy defender also has seven Dutch national team caps to his name and may feel that a high profile move to Chelsea could better aid his push for a more prominent role in Louis van Gaal’s starting line-up, all the more relevant with a World Cup Finals tournament on the horizon.