Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted that his side must make room for a "new generation" of defenders amid links with a move for Leicester City's Wesley Fofana.
After losing Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, the Blues beefed up their backline with the acquisition of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli.
At 31 years of age, Koulibaly does not represent a particularly long-term investment for the club, while Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta - who started alongside the Senegal man in Saturday's 1-0 win over Everton - have also entered the latter stages of their careers.
Tuchel has youthful options in the likes of Marc Cucurella, Ethan Ampadu, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, but the capital club are still thought to be trying to prise Fofana away from Leicester.
The Foxes have allegedly already rejected two bids for the 21-year-old, including one in the excess of £70m, but Tuchel has admitted that he is searching for a player who fits Fofana's profile.
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"It is a lot of experience, it is maybe another of age, it is a lot of experience and they have their quality and they know what they are doing," Tuchel said in his post-game press conference.
"We also need to make sure we have a new generation to take over in the next years, but the guys are strong. That is why they are under contract and the guys have our trust.
"There needs to be [balance]. I think it is necessary. The game in general is very physical and demands a lot. This is the situation. We knew it before.
"Azpi is the legend that he is, Thiago is in the moment still very important to us and when we had the chance to sign Kalidou we did it because we believe that he has some years ahead of him.
"But in general it is the fact that like the goalkeeper and the double sixes are in their thirties, and that is just what it is. Pace is an issue and speed is an issue. In all signings, this is the demand of the game that you can play one on ones, that you can defend space if needed with high-speed runs."
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A recent report from The Guardian claimed that Chelsea are willing to break the bank by bidding £85m for Fofana, which would see him become the most expensive defender of all time - surpassing the £80m Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire.
Fofana was restricted to just 12 appearances in all competitions in the 2021-22 season after sustaining a fibula fracture in pre-season but played the full 90 in Sunday's Premier League opener with Brentford, as the Foxes let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2.
The former Saint-Etienne man agreed a new contract with Brendan Rodgers's side until 2027 only a few months ago, and the Leicester boss has continued to insist that he is not on the market.
"These players are not for sale. These are very important players to us," Rodgers responded when questioned on the futures of Fofana and Newcastle United-linked James Maddison.
"We're in a situation where we need to move some players out but that doesn't mean getting rid of anyone and everyone, and especially not our best assets."
Chelsea will aim to make it back-to-back wins to start the Premier League season when Tottenham Hotspur visit Stamford Bridge for Sunday's London derby.
Ben Knapton
