Chelsea transfer news: Roman Abramovich may be about to deliver on Thomas Tuchel promise | Football | Sport

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will be hoping to benefit from the arrival of Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde this month, with the Blues having resumed talks over a move for his services, according to reports. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with the Stamford Bridge club since the beginning of the transfer window as Tuchel looks to strengthen his defensive ranks ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

Roman Abramovich has already opened his pockets to fund the club-record arrival of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan this summer.

The Belgian marksman was believed to be at the top of Tuchel’s wish list, with the German boss having identified the need for a top-class striker to lead the line this season.

He has also been looking to land a new central defender in order to stand the best chance of mounting a renewed Premier League title challenge.

Talks with Kounde and Sevilla reportedly got underway last month, but Chelsea’s hopes of striking a deal have been put on hold by the necessity to sell at least one of their existing stars.

However, Kurt Zouma’s impending move to West Ham United looks set to give the Blues the squad space and additional funds required to bring Kounde to west London.

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If the Sevilla man is confirmed as a Chelsea player before the window slams shut, it would represent a huge coup for Tuchel and Abramovich.

The former has been persistent in relaying his desire to land both a striker and a defender, and it seems as though Chelsea’s billionaire owner is willing to grant his wish.

Abramovich is prepared to shell out another sizeable fee on Kounde to bring the club’s summer spending total up to a cool £140.5m, according to transfer expert Kaveh Sohlekol.

“Progress has been made in talks which could see Kounde moving to Chelsea in a £43m deal,” he told Sky Sports News.

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“This summer, Chelsea wanted to sign a striker and a centre back. They signed Romelu Lukaku for £97.5m two weeks ago from Inter Milan, while Kounde has always been their No 1 defensive target this summer.

“There is an increased confidence a deal can be done before Tuesday, especially because it looks like Zouma is on his way to West Ham.”

Kounde is likely to be deployed on the right-hand side of Chelsea’s back three if a move can be engineered in the remaining five days of the transfer window.

He has firmly established himself as one of La Liga’s finest central defenders with Sevilla, making 49 appearances in all competitions last season.

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The Frenchman was rewarded for his good form with a place in Dider Deschamps’ final 26-man squad for Euro 2020 earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, who is said to be on Manchester United’s radar.

However, it remains to be seen whether Abramovich will be looking to sign the 26-year-old alongside Kounde, with the capture of a new defender understood to be a greater priority.

The Blues already have plenty of talent in the middle of the park, with the likes of Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic set to reprise their influential roles in the side this season.

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