Chelsea are interested in signing Joao Cancelo from Valencia

Chelsea are interested in signing Joao Cancelo from Valencia, according to Sky sources.

The Premier League champions scouted the right-back extensively when he was playing for Portugal at the European U21 championships this summer and watched him again pre-season.

The 23-year-old made one appearance for Benfica before joining Valencia on a season-long loan in 2014. He agreed a permanent switch to the Spanish side the following year.

Cancelo featured for Portugal U21s at the European Championships this summer

He made 38 appearances for Valencia last season, scoring one goal.

As well as representing his country at youth level, Cancelo scored on his debut for the Portuguese senior national side in the 5-0 win over Gibraltar in September 2016.

He followed that up with two more goals against Andorra and the Faroe Islands the following month in World Cup 2018 qualifiers.