Chelsea reportedly want to complete the singing of Sevilla's versatile defender Jules Kounde as soon as Ted Boehly's £4.25billion takeover of the west London club is completed and UK Government sanctions end.
The Blues are keen to make the deal happen as soon as possible, according to reports from GOAL.com, with several defenders leaving the club for free with the Stamford Bridge club unable to extend players' contracts.
Chelsea reportedly had agreed a deal last year to bring Kounde to the club, but the move collapsed over the fee Sevilla demanded and the late timing of discussions.
Blues manager Thomas Tuchel has already assured fans that potential new owner Boehly is committed to making Chelsea 'competitive'.
Tuchel said: 'We will share our opinion in more detail over the next weeks and I am sure he is as ambitious to build a competitive Chelsea for the highest level.
'He paid some money for it, so I don’t think he is keen to drop the ambition.'
Sevilla are reportedly holding out for £59million for Kounde, who has previously won the Europa League with the Spanish club, and reportedly require around £38m by the end of June to balance their books.
But Sevilla are also keen for the deal to be done quickly so they can bring in a replacement for the French defender.
Chelsea are keen to sign a top quality defender after the announcements that Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger will leave for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively at the end of their current contracts.
The Blues have identified other options at centre back and are unlikely to sign only one top-quality player in that position, but they are keen to make the Frenchman the first signing of the Boehly era.
Kounde, who can play both as a centre half and as a right back, is believed to have a verbal agreement with Sevilla to leave the club in the summer.
And with the likes of N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Marcos Alonso and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta with just one year left on their deals, Chelsea are desperate for the takeover deal to be completed sooner rather than later.
amadougs18
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Kopbcins
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so, you want to have two short people at the back?
Height is not an issue, as far he knows how to jump very well, he’s good to go. Not by tall, experienced also matter
dennisachafu
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Is Thiago silver tall
so, you want to have two short people at the back?
Kopbcins
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I said it last year when Tuchel was going for Lukaku that Lukaku is not the type of striker that Chelsea needs but Tuchel insisted they should sign the striker for him. The same way I'm still saying it that Kounde is not the type of defender Chelsea wants for now. He is error prone, have a high record of red cards and too short to play in premier league central defense. I don't know why Tuchel doesn't have eyes for signing suitable players. His first error was Lukaku and now, Kounde is coming. I know Chelsea fans are excited but wait and see by next season if I'm right or wrong. I'm not wishing him failure but this guy is overrated.
Is Thiago silver tall
Nabacekmsu
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I said it last year when Tuchel was going for Lukaku that Lukaku is not the type of striker that Chelsea needs but Tuchel insisted they should sign the striker for him. The same way I'm still saying it that Kounde is not the type of defender Chelsea wants for now. He is error prone, have a high record of red cards and too short to play in premier league central defense. I don't know why Tuchel doesn't have eyes for signing suitable players. His first error was Lukaku and now, Kounde is coming. I know Chelsea fans are excited but wait and see by next season if I'm right or wrong. I'm not wishing him failure but this guy is overrated.
always don't name the child before it's bron just be happy,,,why do you people always think the betway it will happen because you want it to happen
fourthorty430
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Let the deal be done.. Make it snappy... We need him much.
dennisachafu
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I said it last year when Tuchel was going for Lukaku that Lukaku is not the type of striker that Chelsea needs but Tuchel insisted they should sign the striker for him. The same way I'm still saying it that Kounde is not the type of defender Chelsea wants for now. He is error prone, have a high record of red cards and too short to play in premier league central defense. I don't know why Tuchel doesn't have eyes for signing suitable players. His first error was Lukaku and now, Kounde is coming. I know Chelsea fans are excited but wait and see by next season if I'm right or wrong. I'm not wishing him failure but this guy is overrated.
nayapyz
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BRING ALL TUCHELS'S TARGET THEN HE WILL GIVE MORE TO THE TEAM🙏
veeycee
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can someone get this deal done please am losing it
midestivah
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Let this handing and taking over thing get through in time, it's keeping us in the dark, why are the UK government still delaying things?
UgodonFabulous
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get on with it and stop keeping our hopes up