Chelsea set to sell 'leader' in January so they can sign £83m star

Chelsea are now prepared to sell a 'leader' in January so they can sign an £83million player, with Enzo MarescaThe team is already making contact regarding a possible transfer.

Chelsea beat Southampton 5-1 to extend unbeaten run in Premier League

West Londoners were seen as potential Premier League title contenders after a strong start to the campaign, although Maresca continues to fend off the idea that they could end the club's nearly nine-year wait for a national crown.

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The Magpies have set a huge price tag.

Chelsea haven't won a title since Antonio Conte led them to glory in 2016, but they're going for it in earnest this season – just seven points behind league leaders Liverpool and losing just twice .

They were faced by Arne Slot's side and current champions Man City, with Maresca yet to suffer a league defeat since losing at Anfield in October.

Chelsea beat Southampton 5-1 at St. Mary's to extend their unbeaten home run to six games, and it's virtually impossible to be at least a little excited given how well they're playing at the moment.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Leicester City in the summer, Maresca has implemented an exciting, attack-focused style of play that has pleased both critics and supporters – but the Chelsea manager still refuses to get drawn into the debates surrounding this year's title race.

“We are not in the title race. We are not, in my opinion,” said Maresca on Chelsea's chances of winning the championship.

“What I told the owners and sporting directors the first time I met them, because of their age and the quality of the team, for me Chelsea in the next five to ten years will be the one of the teams, or the team, that will dominate English football.

“That's what I told the club the first time I met them. It doesn't matter who the manager is, for the next five or ten years, because of the age, because of the team, you can dominate English football, and I still think exactly the same thing.”

Nevertheless, Chelsea will approach their match against the inconsistent Tottenham on a very good note, with a defender Axel Disasi even managing to get on the scoresheet against Southampton after returning to the starting XI.

Chelsea were preparing to sell Axel Disasi in January so they could sign Tomas Araujo

The Frenchman had missed out on a place in his previous five Premier League squads, but Maresca gave him the opportunity to start against Southampton.

Disasi ultimately rewarded his manager's faith with a strong display, but there were reports in the build-up to January that Chelsea could look to offload Disasi and free up space for another central defender.

Chelsea scour the market for another central defensive starand they have been linked with Benfica star Tomas Araujo.

TEAMtalk reports on its interest in the Portuguese, as Maresca looks to reshape the team into future dominators of English football.

It is believed that Chelsea ready to sell Disasi in January and have made contact for Araujowith the sale of their defender seen as crucial to potentially getting a deal done for the latter defender.

Although it is called “chief” In defense at times, Disasi is also considered 'limited' by some behind the scenes at Chelsea, which has sparked their interest in Araujo, who is said to have an £83 million release clause in his contract.

The 22-year-old, who can also play at right-back, is emerging as one of the most promising defenders in the Primeira Liga – who has seemingly turned heads in west London.