Chelsea have re-taken fresh 'steps' to sign long-term club target Jules Kounde as Cristiano Ronaldo's influence has been revealed.
Just who will be lining up in the Chelsea backline next season continues to remain a mystery with a host of big names and a few closer to home touted around in relation to being potential Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen replacements. It was understood before the likes of key directors Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech left the club, Sevilla gem Kounde was the club's first priority target for the defensive position. However, both exits have resulted in priorities shifting with it being revealed that Thomas Tuchel's ideal target didn't exactly line up with the club's vision.
This is because Juventus centre-half Matthijs de Ligt is viewed as the ideal man to make up the foundation of what will be a newly looked Blues backline for 2022/23. Currently, new owner Todd Boehly and the Juventus board remain some ways apart in their valuation of a potential swap deal which will see Timo Werner plus significant cash head the Old Lady's way in return for the 22-year-old. But the general consensus of this deal was that it would in essence mean that Kounde to Chelsea would become a no-go and recent reports from the Spanish press had reflected just this with some even going as far to expressing the Frenchman's annoyance in seeing his dream move fade in front of his eyes.
