Chelsea's hopes of luring Napoli full-back Faouzi Ghoulam to Stamford Bridge have been given a boost, with the 26-year-old stalling over a new deal.
Having recently returned from the African Cup of Nations, the Algeria international was expected to sit down and discuss fresh terms with the Serie A giants.
However, according to Corriere dello Sport, such talks are still a long way off, increasing speculation over Ghoulam's future.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is looking to add to his defence in the summer and the Algerian is high on the list of priorities for the Italian coach.