Chelsea reportedly have Hoffenheim centre-half Niklas Sule on their winter hit-list.

ESPN reports that Blues boss Antonio Conteis continuing to target a number of players as he strives to strengthen his defence in January.

6ft 5in German defender Sule, who has started 11 times for 6th-placed Hoffenheim this term, is believed to be at the top of Conte's shortlist after the West London club reportedly failed to lure him to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Sule is contracted with Hoffenheim until the summer of 2019 but the fact he is operating impressively in the Bundesliga in a three-man defence, much like Chelsea's, has Conte very keen.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also showing interest in Sule.

Also on the Chelsea transfer radar is Burnley's Michael Keane, Middlesbrough's Ben Gibson and AS Roma's Antonio Rudiger.