Chelsea transfer news: Blues 'ready for second centre back' with Jules Kounde deal close
Todd Boehly's £4.25 million Chelsea takeover has given head coach Thomas Tuchel the green
light for a £200 million refit of his squad this summer.
The Government's approval of the consortium headed by LA Dodgers part-owner Boehly effectively
lifts the Blues out of transfer limbo.
With Antonio Rudiger, Thomas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso all heading
out of Stamford Bridge, Tuchel intends to move fast to bring in wholesale reinforcements
for his depleted defence.
Seville centre-back Jules Kounde is expected to be the first signing of the Boehly era
in SW6, with a £68 million deal close to agreement.
The French international is widely reported to be keen on the move, and to be handed Rudiger's
role as the enforcer in Chelsea's defence.
With the takeover red tape removed, Tuchel is confident of wrapping up a deal with Seville.
Another central defender high on Tuchel's wish-list is Atletico Madrid's £45 million-rated
Uruguayan Jose Gimenez.
The 27-year-old has been with his current club for nine years, and has been a mainstay
of Diego Simeone's impressive back line at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Less certain of a switch to Stamford Bridge, amid keen interest from Tottenham and Manchester
United, is Villarreal defender Pau Torres.
Spurs had a £42 million bid for the 25-year-old Spanish international accepted last summer,
only for the player to opt for another season with the Yellow Submarine because of their
Champions League involvement.
According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, Spurs have tabled a matching bid – but United
have joined the bidding with Chelsea, and Torres is believed to be keen on a move to
Old Trafford, despite the relative obscurity of Europa League football next season.
Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol, who has earned rave reviews at Red Bull Leipzig in
Germany, is another defender on Tuchel's radar.
At 20, he is one of the Bundesliga's most-coveted young defenders, and he would not come cheap
because he is under contract until 2026.
But after breaking into the Croatian national team last year, Gvardiol is understood to
be wary of moving clubs in the countdown to the World Cup in Qatar.
Another Leipzig hot property, £60 million-rated French striker Christopher Nkunku, is one
of Tuchel's prime targets higher up the pitch to go with his platoon of new centre backs.
Nkunku, 24, would provide serious competition for Timo Werner and Kai Havertz on the Blues
front line.
Tuchel also intends to bring Albanian striker Armando Broja back from his season-long loan
at Southampton to compete for first-team football at Chelsea next season.