Chelsea have been given an update on the availability of Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.
The Blues have been tracking the Frenchman for over a year and have a desperate need to bring in new options at centre-back following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen this summer. But the defender has also been linked with Barcelona, leading to Sevilla director of football Monchi giving an update on the player's current situation.
It comes as Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is weighing up a bid for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo after he asked to leave the Old Trafford club. And Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic are on different pages with both potentially being included in swap deals.
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Kounde transfer update
Sevilla director of football Monchi says the interest in Jules Kounde is coming from "England and other countries" amid rumours he is about to sign for Barcelona.
The French centre-back has been high on Thomas Tuchel's shortlist for a long time and the club had been expected to make a move to sign the player this summer. That move is yet to materialise, though, and reports now suggest Barcelona have entered the race to sign the highly-rated defender.
But Chelsea have been handed a boost to their hopes of signing Kounde, with Monch insisting there has been "zero contact with Barcelona".
Boehly considers Ronaldo bid
Todd Boehly is considering a move for Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese superstar asked to leave the Old Trafford club this summer.
The Blues owner has become personally involved in the club's transfer dealings this summer and is desperate to bring in a marquee signing to mark the beginning of a new era at Stamford Bridge. And after Cristiano Ronaldo asked to leave United in order to play in the Champions League next season, Boehly is considering making an extraordinary offer for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Thomas Tuchel is an admirer of Ronaldo and could turn to him in order to replace Romelu Lukaku, who has returned to Inter Milan on loan.
Werner and Pulisic on different pages
Chelsea stars Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic are said to have differing opinions about leaving the club during the summer transfer window.
Both Werner and Pulisic have been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge and are believed to have featured in discussions with Juventus over a player-plus-cash move for Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt. The Italian outfit are thought to be keen on Pulisic rather than Werner, though, which could put a halt to the negotiations.
According to sources, American star Pulisic is keen to remain in Thomas Tuchel's squad and compete for regular minutes, while Werner would be open to leaving during this transfer window.
