Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Michael Hector and Top Blues Rumours

Chelsea are on the verge of completing a shock move for Reading centre-back Michael Hector as Blues manager Jose Mourinho seeks to add further options in defence following a porous start to the 2015-16 season.  

Sky Sports' Pete O'Rourke confirmed on Tuesday the west Londoners were close to completing a move for the 23-year-old, a deal Sami Mokbel and Simon Jones of the MailOnline value at £4.5 million:

That report proclaims the Blues outbid fellow top-flight suitors Crystal Palace for the Jamaica international after technical director Michael Emenalo scouted the talent in recent weeks.

Hector is yet to feature in the Premier League and has been a serial loanee during his five years at Reading, per Squawka, spending time on loan at the likes of Barnet, Cheltenham Town and Aberdeen:

The Daily Mirror's Darren Lewis confirmed Chelsea's capture of Nantes central defender Papy Djilobodji earlier on Tuesday for a fee of £2.7 million, adding another option to the Blues back line.

Chelsea have been out-of-character in defence this season, leaking nine goals in their first four games of the Premier League term, second only to bottom-place Sunderland in goals conceded.

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Mourinho's side failed in their move for Everton and England star John Stones earlier in the summer, with Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo confirming their fourth and final rejected offer as being worth £37 million.

Hector's acquisition would not be as glamorous as that of Stones, but the defender spoke to the Daily Mail's Sam Cunningham earlier this year after he was picked for Jamaica's Copa America squad. There, he spoke of his intention to compete with the best of the football world, something he would be doing more of at Stamford Bridge:

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I only play against players like that on FIFA. To come up against them will be a great experience. You’ve got to take it in your stride. Messi probably drinks the same drinks I do, eats the same food I do, so he’s only human. I’ve got respect for him but you can’t put him too high on a pedestal.

If you’re scared to play against them you shouldn’t be playing the sport, because you want to test yourself against the best.

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John Terry, Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma are likely to maintain their place near the top of Chelsea's pecking order, but Mourinho may be more open to competition following a dismal start to the new campaign.

However, Chelsea Youth believes there are cheaper options available to the reigning Premier League champions, namely Chelsea academy graduate Jeffrey Bruma, who was sold to PSV in 2013:

Hector made 49 appearances for Reading across all competitions last season as the Royals ran to a disappointing 19th-place finish in the Championship.

Stamford Bridge may not be a massive journey from Berkshire as the crow flies, but Hector would be undertaking an almighty leap if he swaps second-flight football for the heights of the Champions League.