Chelsea have ‘activated all machinery’ to get signing done – Blues have ‘picked up phone’

Jules Koundé’s name ‘stands out above others’ at Sevilla as we edge closer towards the end of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea have an interest and Marca say the west London club ‘prepare a last offensive’ to sign the defender, after their initial offer of €30-35m plus Kurt Zouma was ‘rejected’ by the La Liga side in July.

ABC Sevilla, a newspaper local to the Spanish club, say the Blues ‘activated all the machinery yesterday’ to materialise the 22-year-old’s transfer. Thomas Tuchel’s side ‘picked up the phone’ to officially start negotiations with Sevilla

There were claims a deal can be concluded for a fee of around €50m plus bonuses, while the centre-back has a €90m release clause in his contract.

It’s claimed the ‘white smoke’ can be achieved for a fee of around €70-75m and it’s not ruled out the Champions League winners could include their own players as part of the deal.

The report adds Chelsea are working to sell Kurt Zouma to West Ham United for €30m, to ‘undertake the signing of Koundé’.

Sevilla are hoping to ‘find a resolution soon’ in the former Bordeaux man’s case as Monchi will have get into the market to sign a replacement for the Frenchman, if Koundé ends up moving to Chelsea.

After weeks of inactivity, there’s a suggestion the deal could be concluded after Chelsea officially started negotiations with Sevilla.