Chelsea 'express interest' in Leicester midfielder who played under Enzo Maresca

Chelsea are reported to have "expressed interest" in Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who played under new boss Enzo Maresca in the Championship last season.

Dewsbury-Hall first joined Leicester's academy at the age of eight and established himself in the first-team during the 2021/22 campaign when the Foxes were in the Premier League. Last season, he managed 26 goals and assists from midfield in the second tier to help fire them back to the top flight.

Maresca was in charge at the King Power Stadium then and, as The Athletic reports, Dewsbury-Hall has now been identified by Chelsea as someone who is the "perfect fit" for the style of play the new boss intends to implement at Stamford Bridge.

There has been no formal offer from Chelsea as it stands, but Dewsbury-Hall is said to be "keen" on the potential move. However, they may be the only club who could tempt him to leave.

Leicester were thought to be seeking at least £30m for Dewsbury-Hall, who has a contract until the summer of 2027, when Brighton & Hove Albion showed an interest in January. Tottenham Hotspur have also since been linked with the 25-year-old.

Chelsea have bought midfielders from Leicester in the past with mixed success. N'Golo Kante traded the East Midlands for west London in a £32m deal in 2016 off the back of winning the Premier League title with the Foxes. He repeated that feat with Chelsea and scooped PFA Players' Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season.

The Blues returned to Leicester the following summer to sign Danny Drinkwater for £35m. But a string of injuries, off-field issues and unsuccessful loans saw him make just 23 appearances before being released at the end of his contract five years later in 2022.

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