Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Steven N'Zonzi and Simon Kjaer

Manchester City have reportedly identified Sevilla star and Chelsea transfer target Steven N'Zonzi as the ideal player to replace the injured Ilkay Gundogan. Meanwhile, the Blues are said to be keeping an eye on Fenerbahce's Simon Kjaer, with Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci no longer an option.

According to Estadio Deportivo (h/t Calciomercato.com), the Citizens are actively looking to replace Gundogan, who suffered a devastating knee injury and will spend a significant amount time on the sidelines.

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N'Zonzi, who has been linked heavily with Juventus and is also of interest to Chelsea, has now been identified as the preferred replacement, with a potential move made easy by the fact his contract contains a release clause of roughly £25 million.

The Frenchman has started the 2016-17 season in fantastic form, establishing himself as one of the top holding midfielders in La Liga. N'Zonzi also caught the eye of Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, twice putting together superb performances.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

The 28-year-old has blossomed in Spain after a solid spell with Stoke City, expanding his skill set. No longer the pure bruiser he was once regarded as, N'Zonzi has added to his passing range and contributions in the attacking third.

As shared by Squawka Football, the statistics show how much he's improved:

As a replacement for Gundogan, N'Zonzi would make a ton of sense, although he's cup-tied to Sevilla. The £25 million price tag isn't overly large for a club like City, and if it leads to a Premier League title, it'll be money well spent.

Convincing N'Zonzi to leave Sevilla for another adventure in England might be tricky, however. Gundogan is expected to return to the starting XI once he returns from injury and rediscovers his old form, and the former Stoke City man knows this.

A move to Chelsea would make more sense. Nemanja Matic has been solid during the first half of the season, but N'Zonzi is exactly the kind of high-octane, well-rounded player manager Antonio Conte loves to work with.

At Stamford Bridge, N'Zonzi would likely be an impact starter alongside N'Golo Kante, giving the Blues a fantastic duo in front of the defence.

Meanwhile, several sources, including Bleacher Report's Dean Jones, report Chelsea have turned to Kjaer to add depth to their defence:

ESPN FC (h/t Metro) report the same news, and per the report, Turkish outlets claim the Blues have already contacted Fenerbahce.

Kjaer was seen as a bit of a transfer flop when he failed to live up to expectations with AS Roma, but he rediscovered his form during a stint with Lille and has been rock-solid since moving to Fenerbahce in 2015.

The Denmark international, who has played alongside talented youngster Andreas Christensen on the international stage, could reportedly be available for around £ 12.5 million, providing excellent value for a midseason addition.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

While Kjaer may not be the biggest name, he would add the depth Chelsea sorely need heading into the second half of the season. With Kurt Zouma also ready to feature, the Blues defence would be set for now, and Christensen will only add to the options next season.