Chelsea have asked Real Madrid about Morocco international Achraf Hakimi.
The 21-year-old has spent the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund and has been one of the standout stars in the Bundesliga.
But the loan deal between the two clubs does not contain an option to purchase at the end of the campaign and that has prompted a number of clubs to register an interest.
Chelsea are one of them and were told by Real that they will not make any decisions until this season finally reaches its conclusion.
Real’s initial plan was to include Hakimi in the first-team squad next season but the final call on that will be left with coach Zinedine Zidane.
German giants Bayern Munich are also expected to come in for the player if he is allowed to leave Madrid.
Hakimi operates primarily at right-back but can also play left-back and as a winger.
Reece James has broken into Chelsea’s first team at right-back under Frank Lampard and Cesar Azpilicueta has been regularly preferred at left-back to Marcos Alonso.
Hakimi’s representatives met with Real bosses last month in a bid to find out their plans for the player.
And they made it clear to Bernabeu bigwigs that he would only stay if there was a guarantee that he would get regular game time.
Hakimi’s contract in Madrid runs until June 2022 and contains a release clause of around £50million.
He has made 37 appearances for Dortmund this season with seven goals and 10 assists.
