Paris Saint-Germain enter race for Chelsea defensive target

French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly joined Chelsea in the race for Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi. 

The versatile Moroccan is in the final season of his two-year loan at Borussia Dortmund and has been really impressive with seven goals and ten assists in his 37 appearances this season. It is claimed that the 21-year-old has a £50 million release clause and Real Madrid are more than willing to cash in on the youngster.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich have both been strongly linked with Hakimi while Borussia Dortmund are also keen on making the deal permanent. However, as per reports in Spain, Paris Saint-Germain have also entered the race as they want the Moroccan international to solve their right-back problems for many years to come. 

Hakimi is a right-back by trade but has also been deployed on the left this season as well as out wide in a more advanced role. 

It is claimed that Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is a huge admirer of the defender, earmarking him as a potential successor to 30-year-old skipper Cesar Azpilicueta. 

Lampard has also shown a huge amount of confidence in youngster Reece James this season but Hakimi is much more experienced compared to the young Englishman despite being just a year older.

The Morocco international is a product of Real Madrid's academy and has made 17 appearances for the La Liga giants. 

Despite early indications that manager Zinedine Zidane wanted to bring him back into the first-team set up once his Dortmund loan ends, it is believed the Spanish side are having second thoughts as they also need to raise funds. Zidane wants him to be available again, but the club hierarchy are concerned that the Moroccan's progress could be hurt by a lack of playing time with Dani Carvajal still first-choice. 

With Carvajal seemingly going nowhere, Madrid chiefs are wary of hurting Hakimi's growth by bringing him back and losing out on the possibility of cashing in on the in-form defender. 

Earlier this season, Hakimi admitted: "'I cannot lie, of course I would like to succeed in Madrid, it is my home. "But if it is not, I will try to succeed elsewhere. That is my dream."

Featured Image Credits - Morocco Football