Chelsea are ready to make Reece James the highest paid defender in the club's history.

The fullback has been waiting for almost 12 months to open new contract talks.

James is among the lowest paid senior players at Chelsea, despite his first-choice status.

The Daily Mail says James is on the brink of signing a bumper new Chelsea deal worth at least £250,000-per-week.

Chelsea's negotiations over an improved contract for key defender James have reached a successful conclusion, with the 22 year-old set to put pen-to-paper imminently.

The agreement is understood be an initial five-year deal and will make James the highest-paid defender in Chelsea's history.