Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a move for Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule in a transfer that could spark a merry-go-round.
The Germany international, who has spent the past four years at the Allianz Arena, is due to be out of contract at the end of next season.
Bayern are said to be reluctant to offload Sule, especially with free agents Jerome Boateng and David Alaba already on their way out this summer.
According to El Gol Digital, however, Chelsea will test the Bavarian giants' resolve by making a move for the 25-year-old when the transfer window opens.
The same report suggests that, should Sule arrive at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will give the green light for long-serving defender Cesar Azpilicueta to join Atletico Madrid in a £15m deal.
That will open the door for Jose Maria Gimenez to depart Atleti, with Real Madrid and Manchester United rumoured to be interested in the 26-year-old.
Sule has made 32 appearances for Bayern in all competitions this season, but he is currently sidelined with a muscle injury that has kept him out for the past three weeks. body check tags ::