Chelsea turns its attention to star centerback addition for the summer

There are some transfers/transfer rumors in football that just make sense. Whether it’s because of never-ending links (Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid), chemistry (Declan Rice to Chelsea), history (Adama Traore to Barcelona) or other factors, some deals just seem like a matter of “when” not “if” from the beginning. The Blues are lucky enough to have established this type of relationship with two of their top targets ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

As Thomas Tuchel begins to prepare for another season on the touchline in west London, he’s earned the right to shape the team to his liking, similar to the way Pep Guardiola has done at Manchester City over the last few years. This means a small overhaul of the roster, which will undoubtedly include some tough decisions. Luckily, the Chelsea board has already turned its attention to one of the German manager’s favorite prospects as it prepares for a busy summer.

Chelsea turns its attention back to courting Sevilla centerback Jules Kounde

The Blues look to be pivoting away from their discussions with their out-of-contract centerbacks for the time being—having put offers on the table for all three—and looking toward the future. Chelsea has opened up a dialogue with the representatives of Sevilla centerback Jules Kounde once again. Kounde was close to joining the Club World Cup winners last summer before talks broke down between the two clubs due to a fee discrepancy. Nevertheless, the French centerback has always been fond of the idea of joining the Blues, making an almost certain future transfer one of football’s worst kept secrets. Sevilla is now scouting the market for replacements, as well.

The relentless pursuit of Kounde over the last eight months is an encouraging sign for Chelsea supporters. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the player has been scouted by the club for years, but he is also the No. 1 name on Tuchel’s transfer target list. This is a positive sign as it’s yet another instance where the visions of the board and manager are aligned. These latest developments in the Kounde to Chelsea saga are the most positive ones that have come out to date. Sevilla’s scouting efforts seemingly display the Spanish club’s willingness to accept the fact the Frenchman will depart in the coming months.

The rapidly advancing talks also reveal a lot about where the Blues feel they’re at right now.

Their stance in the summer window seems to be a “one in, one out” approach. It looks as if they expect at least one of Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen or Antonio Rudiger to be departing on a free at the conclusion of the campaign. Kounde would be the most natural replacement for Azpilicueta on the right of a back three. He’s been touted to take over this role due to his superb ball-carrying abilities. Kounde’s most experience comes in a back two though, and he can also play as a right fullback when required too. His positional versatility would go a long way in helping the Blues replace their longtime captain, should he opt to leave after a decade to join Barcelona.

While Marina Granovskaia and Co. have fumbled the current centerback contract bag, they are looking to redeem themselves with some incredible defensive additions this summer. Bringing in the experienced 23-year-old to kick off the window would be a strong statement of intent from a club looking to transform into a consistent juggernaut in the upper echelons of world football.

Do you think Kounde signs with the Blues this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!