Chelsea to make revised £30m bid for Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule in January transfer window

Chelsea are set to pursue their interest in Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule when the transfer market opens next month.

Sule is rated as one of the top young centre-halves in Germany and has been identified by Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo as a player capable of operating in Antonio Conte’s back-three.

Chelsea had a £20million offer for the 21-year-old rejected in August and were told to up the bid to £30m.

Chelsea are set to make a January move for Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule

They chose not to increase the offer and turned instead to complete a deal for David Luiz from Paris St Germain.

But Emenalo and his scouting team have continued to monitor Sule closely through the first-half of this season, as have several other big clubs, including Liverpool and AC Milan.

He is 6ft 5ins tall and strong, quick for his size and comfortable on the ball with either foot, and represented Germany in the Olympic Games in Brazil, winning a silver medal. He made his debut for Joachim Low’s senior team in August.

Sule has been identified as the perfect candidate to play in Antonio Conte's back three

Hoffenheim are unbeaten in Bundesliga this season and are fourth after 14 games, seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

They are not under any pressure to sell but Chelsea will test them with another move when the market opens.