Chelsea have expanded their search for a new center-back after Barcelona hijacked their move for Jules Kounde, and are now eyeing Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The Blues paid £33 million for Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly earlier this month, but they are eager to sign another center-back before the transfer deadline.
Both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left West London at the end of last season, joining Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, and Tuchel has repeatedly emphasised the importance of new signings.
Chelsea have been in talks with Sevilla about a deal for Kounde and are hopeful that the Frenchman will join them for around £55 million.
However, Barcelona entered the race for Kounde earlier this month and appears to be at the front of the queue to sign the 23-year-old.
Kounde is open to joining Chelsea but would prefer to join Barcelona, who are currently raising funds to complete the deal.
As a result, Chelsea is looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements, with Denzel Dumfries, Milan Skriniar, and Presnel Kimpembe recently linked.
According to Sky Sports, another name has emerged as a Chelsea target, with Leicester’s Fofana attracting interest from the Blues.
Following his move from Ligue 1 to Leicester in 2020, Fofana quickly established himself as one of the club’s most important players, but his development was halted when he suffered a broken leg around this time last year.
The 21-year-old, who signed a two-year contract extension at the King Power Stadium in March, is fit and ready to go for the new season.
Chelsea will not only lose Kounde to Barcelona, but will also lose two defenders to the Spanish club, with Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta both interested in moves to the Nou Camp.
Blues manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted to being irritated by Barcelona’s pursuit of Cesar Azpilicueta.
“Maybe a little bit,” Tuchel said during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America. “It’s a tough question because I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants.
“At some point it is about what we want. I just made the comparison about how much we fought for Koulibaly, who is a national team player and roughly the same age.
“He is a hugely important player for Napoli but we have a Spanish international who is the captain at Chelsea. I see him maybe at the same level but Barcelona don’t see him on that level.
“So I am not sure if I want to give him what he wants as he is a huge player. We don’t think so much about other clubs. The focus is on us and what we need.
“I said that to him and I say it to you that I understand on a personal and a career level. But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants. I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what’s best for Chelsea.
“He doesn’t like it but he understands. It is tough for him because the other club is permanently on him. On September 1 when things calm down, then he can play on his highest level.”
