Chelsea have been handed a huge boost in their hopes of securing the services of Sporting Gijon star Jorge Mere, according to reports from the Daily Star.

Mere is arguably one of the finest young defenders in Europe at the moment having impressed for Gijon over the past two seasons and the 19-year-old is said to have caught the attention of Premier League giants Chelsea in recent times.

Now as a huge boost in Chelsea's hopes of signing Mere, it is understood that Gijon are currently willing to sell the young defender and will allow any transfer to take place for a price lower than his current release clause of £25million - if the club are relegated from La Liga this season.

Gijon currently sit 18th in the Spanish top flight, six points from safety with seven fixtures remaining in the 2016/17 season.