Chelsea have reportedly started negotiations with Sevilla over the transfer of defender Jules Kounde after recently landing Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Blues have been pursuing Kounde for the majority of last and this summer and are preparing to revisit their long-standing interest as they are currently in talks with the club over a potential move, having reportedly already placed a bid for the defender.
According to reports, Chelsea have already placed a €50 million bid plus add-ons to Sevilla, who are heavily reliant on the sale of Kounde to fund their transfers for this window.
Chelsea are confident in their pursuit of Kounde as the player is keen on making the move to England, but they will have to fend off competition from Barcelona, who are also interested in capturing his services.
Thomas Tuchel has identified the Sevilla star as a top target and the defender is excited at the chance to form a partnership with Koulibaly, who recently joined the club for a fee of around £33m.
When asked about any further arrivals this summer, Tuchel said: “We’re working on more numbers.
“Everybody is wishing to have the complete team in pre-season but this almost never happens. We’re working on it as fast as possible but at the same time we’re relaxed.
“We know what we have to offer and we’re also focused on the players who are here because in general that’s the most important.”