Chelsea are ready to step up their interest in Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.

With the Blues struggling to reach a deal with Leicester City for Ben Chilwell, with the two clubs some way apart on a transfer fee, Tagliafico has emerged as an alternative.

The Argentina international, 27, scored five goals and supplied five assists for Ajax last season.

Sky Sports says he could follow Hakim Ziyech in moving from Amsterdam to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Tagliafico, capped 25 times for his country, arrived at Ajax in 2018 from Independiente.