Report: Chelsea eye Ajax's Tagliafico as budget alternative to Leicester's Chilwell

Chelsea have been alerted that Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico could be had for £22.4 million this summer, presenting a cheaper alternative to Leicester City stud Ben Chilwell, according to the Telegraph's Matt Law.

The Blues have been strongly linked with Chilwell, 21, though Leicester's reported demands of no less than £40 million for the England international could persuade the west London lot to shift their gaze to Tagliafico.

Frank Lampard will be familiar with Tagliafico after scouting the Argentine's former Ajax teammate Hakim Ziyech. Chelsea and the Dutch champs agreed to a £37-million deal for Ziyech in February that's bolstered the relationship between the two parties.

Chelsea have shortlisted left-back as a transfer priority this summer as Lampard seeks a replacement for either Marcos Alonso or Emerson.

The club is also monitoring reinforcements at several other positions, and with uncertainties about the summer transfer window amid massive revenue losses, cheaper alternatives are expected to be in high demand.

Tagliafico, 27, has admitted that he'd prefer a move to England over Spain or Italy. "Ajax, it's a great club, but as a player of course you dream of playing in the biggest leagues and the Premier League is right now the most competitive one, a bit above La Liga and Serie A," Tagliafico told Argentinian station Radio Continental earlier in May.