Date: 24th August 2021 at 5:55pm
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Chelsea may have only made one high-profile summer signing so far, but the £97 million acquisition of Romelu Lukaku already looks to be a sound investment. 

The Belgian scored and received the man of the match award on his second debut for the club, as the Blues overcame an uninspiring Arsenal side 2-0.

Now, Thomas Tuchel’s side prepare for arguably the toughest test of their entire season, as they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Between now and then, however, there could be another new arrival at Stamford Bridge, with a current Blues star making way.

According to the Telegraph, West Ham have once again upped their interest in Kurt Zouma and have made progress in their search for an agreement, which will in turn pave the way for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde to move to West London.

The report suggests that the Hammers have made advancements in negotiations, and are now more confident of securing a deal for the Frenchman.

Kounde impressed in La Liga for Sevilla last season and was part of the France squad for Euro 2020.

Chelsea’s refusal to sell for anything less than £35 million had initially thwarted negotiations, but it is now believed that the Champions League holders have lowered their asking price in the hope of freeing up room in the squad for Kounde.

A fee of between £25-£30 million is now expected to be agreed upon, and Zouma is likely to agree personal terms relatively quickly having previously stated his desire to remain in London if he is forced to leave the club.

Zouma had initially been offered to Sevilla as part of a player-plus-cash deal for Kounde, but the Blues’ defender allegedly refused the proposal.

The 26-year-old has been an unused substitute in both of Chelsea’s opening two league games so far this term, and appears to be behind Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva, as well as make-shift centre-backs Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta, in the pecking order.

 
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