Chelsea dealt blow in bid to sign defensive target

Thomas Tuchel is yet to make a big money transfer as Chelsea manager but, when he does, expect it to be huge. 

The Blues dominated the summer transfer season last term, breaking the Premier League record on the most amount spent in a single window.

Over £220 million was shelled out on the likes of Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, and Thiago Silva.

However, their business has been more meticulous this time round, only prioritising one or two positions to strengthen rather than throwing caution to the wind.

Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku has been regularly linked, however, it appears they also want to sign a French defender in Jules Kounde.

However, according to The Guardian, a move for the Sevilla star has hit the rocks after Chelsea could not sell Kurt Zouma to West Ham United, with the 26-year-old allegedly rejecting a move to the London Stadium this week.

Kounde was once labelled as ‘the best defender in the world’ by journalist Guillem Balague.

It is understood the Blues want to sell some stars before they sign Kounde, with Zouma appearing to be the one they want to sacrifice to bring the 22-year-old defender in.

The France international joined the Blues in 2014, but he has been loaned to the likes of Saint-Etienne, Stoke City, and Everton during his time in West London.

He played a huge role under Frank Lampard but Tuchel then reverted to a back three and reinstated Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta to the defence at Zouma’s expense.