Chelsea are preparing a £48m bid for Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, according to the Daily Star. Blues boss Frank Lampard is keen to reinforce his defence and he has identified the 28-year-old as his primary target.

The centre-back would become the fourth most expensive English defender in history if Brighton do accept Chelsea’s reported offer for the defender.

Dunk has spent his entire career at the Seagulls, coming through the South Coast club’s academy before making his senior debut all the way back in May 2010 when his side were still playing in League One.

Since then, the centre-half has gone on to make 291 appearances for Brighton, as well as getting his solitary senior England cap in November 2018, when manager Gareth Southgate gave him a start in the 3-0 friendly win against the USA.

Dunk only signed a new contract in October 2018, and with it being his hometown club as well, Chelsea will need to pay a sizeable sum in order to snap him up.