Chelsea have joined the race to sign Axel Witsel, according to reports emerging from the Daily Mail.

Witsel has entered the final year of his contract at Zenit St. Petersburg and it is now widely expected that the Belgian international will be leaving the Russian side, with the English Premier League being touted as his possible destination.

Everton had been mentioned as the team leading the race to sign Witsel but now according to reports emerging out of England, claims have been made that Chelsea have recently expressed their interest in the 27-year-old as a potential alternative to Roma's Radja Nainggolan who could remain in Italy.