Chelsea are in the need of a defensive overhaul. They have seen the exit of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, with Cesar Azpelicueta and Marcos Alonso, also expected to leave.
Amidst a change of ownership, it was difficult to negotiate contracts for some of these players. Now, with Todd Boehly firmly in the hot seat, it is imperative that they make their moves soon.
Chelsea: Current Status
Jules Kounde has been a long-term target for the Blues. The versatile French defender was pursued by the West London club last season. They offered a cash plus swap deal to Sevilla with Kurt Zouma, but the move never materialized.
This summer, they reignite their pursuit of the Frenchman. Kounde is perfect for a back three. He has shown his adeptness at stepping out of the backline with the ball at his feet, which is a big requirement in Thomas Tuchel’s system. He can be deployed at right-back too, which is an added bonus.
However, negotiations have been stagnant between Chelsea and Sevilla. It has been reported that Kounde’s representatives are unhappy with how negotiations are going. A deal may be difficult to pull off, if it does at all. On the other side, Gleison Bremer has emerged as a target for them as Rudiger’s replacement. The Torino defender was named as Serie A’s best and has attracted plenty of interest. He is looking to move on as well.
Everyone knows my ambitions, I want to play in the Champions League. It’s a matter of time, I’m evaluating several proposals. I don’t think I will be at Torino next season.
The Brazilian has impressive numbers, registering more interceptions than any other defender in Europe’s top 5 leagues. He looks like an able centre-half who can fill the big boots left behind the German defender. Meanwhile, academy graduate Levi Colwill will also return. Thomas Tuchel would look at him in pre-season and decide if he is up to the mark for the first team.
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