Chelsea are reportedly planning to launch a world-record bid for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci in the January transfer window.
The 29-year-old was linked with the West London outfit, as well as Manchester City, in the summer but the Italian giants were able to keep hold of the centre-back.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given manager Antonio Conte the green light to break the bank for Bonucci when the transfer window reopens after expressing concern over the team's defensive woes.
The Russian billionaire is believed to have held a meeting with the former Italy boss during a recent visit to the Blues' Cobham training base.
It has been reported that Abramovich is willing to hand over more than £50m - a figure that made David Luiz the most expensive defender in football when he left Chelsea for Paris Saint-Germain in 2014.
Luiz has since returned to the Premier League club, but he and his teammate Gary Cahill have struggled to adapt to Conte's three-man defence.
Bonucci, who joined Juventus from Bari in 2010, spent three years playing under Conte in Turin.
Danielle Joynson
