Chelsea leading the race to sign Leicester City star?

Chelsea are deemed to be leading the race to sign defender Ben Chilwell from Leicester City when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.

The Blues are presently banned from signing any players until July 1 but they are hopeful of reducing the punishment by six months after their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

According to The Mail, both United and Chelsea are looking into signing a new left-sided defender but the latter are leading the race to sign the England international.

Emerson and Marcos Alonso have been the preferred picks for the left-back role under Frank Lampard this term and the former has regularly got the nod for the starting XI.

Still, Lampard is understood to be eyeing a more attack-minded left-back, who can also be effective in the defence and Chilwell has been identified as the top target.

Leicester City have generally turned down the opportunity to cash in on their star players at the midway stage of the campaign and it remains to be seen whether they are tempted to sanction Chilwell's sale, should the right offer come by.