Photo: Getty Images

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk as Chelsea boss Antonio Conte seeks to strengthen Chelsea’s backline this summer according to a report by The Telegraph.

Manchester City paid £47.5 million for John Stones last summer and Chelsea will reportedly have to break the record for a Premier League defender with Southampton reportedly demanding £50 million for the 25-year-old defender.

With Chelsea captain John Terry leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, Conte believes a top quality defender is needed and he believes Van Dijk, a defender comfortable with the ball, will slot well into Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system.

According to the report in The Telegraph, Van Dijk would prefer a move to Chelsea.