Transfer pursuit updates on Kounde and midfielders

Will Chelsea sign any more players this window?

We are into the final stages of the transfer window this summer, and Chelsea will need to make some decisions on any final pursuits they might be looking to make.

Chelsea could go back in with another offer for Jules Kounde of Sevilla, with that one taking a back burner and pausing whilst Chelsea completed the deal to sign Romelu Lukaku.

Negotiations stalled, but Kounde did agree personal terms with Chelsea and is all ready to join.

Sevilla have been pushing for a higher fee from Chelsea, but there is a bit of confidence from people I have spoken to that a deal can be done here, it might just need to be structured cleverly, and Chelsea will probably need to sell a centre back first.

There is also some strong interest in Kounde from Real Madrid.

However, there are some decisions for Chelsea to make, because Thomas Tuchel is also keen on bringing in another midfielder, but he only wants players coming in who will improve the squad immensely as he does not want to upset current positive squad harmony.

Chelsea could certainly still sign a new centre back as well as a new midfielder, but it is dependent on other decisions and movements such as the futures of Kurt Zouma, Trevoh Chalobah, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Chalobah has given Tuchel a welcome (or maybe not?) headache with his great pre-season form, and also the fact he can play at the back or in midfield, so covers both of these positions.

There has been no final decision on him at the time of writing, and it could be dependent on the Kounde deal. Tuchel really likes Chalobah though and admires his attitude.

As for midfielders, I’ve actually been told not to rule out another last ditch attempt to sign Declan Rice from West Ham. However, he does look set to stay with The Hammers again this season and any move is near impossible in my view.

The other really interesting development is Chelsea holding regular talks with the agent of Kounde, who is also the agent of Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, who is the second midfield option behind Rice this summer.

Kounde and Tchouameni played together at Bordeaux and they are great friends. Chelsea are contemplating a last minute move to bring Tchouameni in but again, it is dependent on other circumstances with current players.

As I said, some big decisions to make in the final couple of weeks of the window.

Simon Phillips