Sevilla star Jules Koundé has been on the radar of top European clubs for several months.
Last week, La Colina de Nervión reported explained Chelsea ‘plan to solve’ their defensive problems with the signing of the 22-year-old.
According to AS, the Blues looked at the possibility of taking David Alaba on a free transfer, but his arrival seems ‘difficult’.
The west London club continue to probe the market and have set their sights on Julen Lopetegui’s man. The report’s title reads: ‘Chelsea on pole for Koundé’.
Within the report, it’s stated Thomas Tuchel’s side have the ‘most interest’ in the Frenchman. It won’t be an easy operation because the former Bordeaux man has a €80m release clause in his contract.
Chelsea faced Sevilla in the Champions League group stages and also travelled to the Spanish city for the first leg quarter-final clash against FC Porto. The trips to Seville have ‘served to bring positions closer together’.
It’s claimed the Premier League side want to take steps to ‘make a juicy offer’ for the central defender. They are also aware Sevilla are a ‘selling club’ and will not block Koundé from leaving as long as there is a satisfactory offer and the player wants to leave.
AS explain Chelsea will make the first offer of player plus money. Hakim Ziyech, Tammy Abraham, Tiémoué Bakayoko, Michy Batshuayi and Kepa Arrizabalaga are unlikely to have future at Chelsea and one of them could be used as a bargaining chip for Koundé.
It’s not clear whether Sevilla would be interested in taking a player plus cash in exchange for Koundé.
