Jules Kounde is still said to be a ‘priority’ signing for Chelsea this summer after Todd Boehly’s promise to Thomas Tuchel, according to reports.
The Frenchman has spent three seasons at Sevilla and was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer, but he remained in Spain for the season just gone.
However it appears as though the Blues are ready to go in for the defender once again in the hopes of bringing him to west London for next season.
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Kounde has 203 combined appearances for Bordeaux and Sevilla and has made nine appearances for the France national team, proving he is a valuable asset for both club and country.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 23-year-old remains as a ‘priority’ for Chelsea this summer.
It is believed that talks on his side are ‘well advanced’ but Sevilla are still yet to receive an opening bid from the Blues.
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He currently has a release clause of €80m but it is thought that his price tag for a deal to take place would be less than that, around €65m.
Blues boss Tuchel wants to sign the player this summer, with new owner Boehly delivering him a promise ever since he and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club at the end of May.
The German manager is set to be given the chance to take the lead when it comes to the club’s business in the transfer market.
There is a belief that the reigning World Champions want to try and adopt a style that is used at Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, with the manager being able to drive decisions.
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Tuchel will therefore be given the freedom to decide on his own transfer targets this summer, rather than those higher up in the club making such decisions.
Kounde could be the big name signing that comes in to replace the departing Antonio Rudiger, who recently revealed that he is 'very happy' to have made the decision to join Real Madrid from next season.
As well as the Frenchman, Chelsea are believed to have made an enquiry for Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar, but both clubs are ‘some distance apart’ in their respective valuations for the 27-year-old.
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Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana is also believed to be a target for the Blues, but he is also being monitored by fellow Premier League outfit Manchester United amid a potential departure from the King Power Stadium this summer.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Jules Kounde, Thomas Tuchel, Todd Boehly, Football
Robert Calcutt