Chelsea Football Club have been linked with a swoop for Steven Taylor.

Carlo Ancelotti is said to be interested in signing a new central defender in the summer, and is also eager to boost the number of English players in his first team squad.

Reports in The Sunday Mirror claim the Italian coach has set his sights on Newcastle United’s homegrown star Taylor, who has proved his ability in the Premier League in the past.

The tabloid claim the Stamford Bridge club are prepared to pay as much as £9million for the 24-year-old, who may feel his chances of an England call could be boosted by such a move.

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