Chelsea 'eyeing Achraf Hakimi transfer' one year after the defender join PSG

Chelsea are weighing up another move for Achraf Hakimi one year after the defender snubbed them to join Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.

Hakimi, 23, left Inter Milan and sealed a £51million switch to PSG last summer before revealing he had turned down the chance to head to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were keen to add him to Thomas Tuchel's ranks ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, and their failure to do so proved disastrous when right wing-back Reece James picked up a serious hamstring injury in December.

Speaking about his decision, Hakimi told L'Equipe back in September: 'I had two offers, one from Chelsea and one from Paris Saint-Germain. But I felt I had to come to Paris, that I would have been happy there.'

Though according to The Athletic, Chelsea have not given up hope of bringing Hakimi to west London and are now closely monitoring his situation at PSG.

The Morocco defender made 41 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino's side last season, producing a return of four goals and six assists to help them clinch the French title.

He would come at a significant cost, nevertheless, having put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Parc des Princes last summer.

Chelsea's interest in Hakimi also raises question marks about the future of James, who has emerged as a transfer target for Real Madrid and Manchester City in recent months.

The 22-year-old has quickly developed into one of the best wing-backs in Europe since bursting onto the scene in 2019, already making 123 senior appearances and playing a key role in the Blues' 2021 Champions League triumph.

He still has three years to run on his current deal and Chelsea are keen to open talks over a renewal, indicating they have no intention of letting their academy star depart anytime soon.

Readying another move for Hakimi may suggest they are bracing themselves for a potential exit in the future, yet more likely is that Tuchel and Co are keen to add greater depth to a squad which suffered an injury crisis last season.

Injuries to James and Ben Chilwell left them seriously short in the wing-back areas, with veterans Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta the only natural available options for a large chunk of the campaign.

Adding Hakimi to the squad, a defender capable of operating on either flank, would save Tuchel a similar headache next season.