Barcelona have approached a reluctant Chelsea about the possibility of landing underused centre-back Andreas Christensen this winter if Samuel Umtiti has to undergo surgery, according to reports.

Umtiti, 25, has been hampered by a knee problem throughout 2018/19. A flare up before Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League win at PSV Eindhoven has caused the La Liga champions’ medical department to consider sanctioning a procedure that would see the France international sidelined for at least four months.

SPORT have stated that an approach has been made to the Blues about Denmark’s Christensen. This, however, was not warmly received even though the 22-year-old has not appeared in the Premier League thus far in 2018/19.

Chelsea view Christensen – who is well behind David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger in the pecking order – as an excellent long-term prospect.