Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is facing up to the prospect of needing significant defensive reinforcements this summer as several key players look set to depart Stamford Bridge including Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Tuchel has guaranteed Champions League football for Chelsea next season which will help in negotiations with possible transfer targets but the German's side have been well off the pace behind Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League.
Chelsea will also finish the season without a trophy having suffered the heartbreak of two penalty shootout defeats to Liverpool in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals. Mirror Sport takes a look at all of the latest Chelsea transfer news and rumours.
Sevilla defender boost
Chelsea's hopes of landing their chief summer defensive target Jules Kounde have received a massive boost - with Sevilla president Jose Castro revealing that his club need to sell players. The Stamford Bridge club have made signing a new centre-back a major priority, with both Rudiger and Christensen set to leave the club on free transfers this summer.
Once Todd Boehly’s consortium have finally completed their long-awaited takeover of the club, Chelsea intend to move swiftly to bring in their targets this summer after a disappointing campaign. Chelsea failed with a bid to land Kounde last summer, but he is still their no.1 target. Sevilla then would not sell unless his £67 million release clause was met, but Chelsea baulked at that deal. But now Sevilla apparently need around £38m before June 30 to balance their books and remain within La Liga’s financial regulations.
Castro told Mundo Deportivo : “We need to align our accounts. We know how to do it, and when there are exits, players that will perform in the future for us will arrive.” Sevilla are believed to have lowered their asking price for Kounde to around £59m, while the France international had reportedly already verbally agreed terms with Chelsea last summer.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should Chelsea sell and buy in the summer? Let us know in the comments section
Milan skipper on radar
Chelsea though are also interested in AC Milan captain and Italy defender Alessio Romagnoli, 27, who is available this summer on a free transfer, according to Mundo Deportivo - though Tottenham are also on the case.
Juventus sporting director Federico Cherubini is in London this week for talks with various clubs - and one of their targets according to Gazzetta dello Sport is Chelsea’s Italy playmaker Jorginho. The Turin club have been fans of the former Napoli player for some time. The Juve camp have been in touch with Jorginho’s camp for some months, according to Gazzetta, and with the 30 year old’s contract expiring in a year’s time they are optimistic a deal can be struck.
Alonso set for Barca switch
Barcelona are in advanced talks with Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso over a summer transfer, according to respected Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano. The Spaniard has been with Chelsea since 2016, registering 28 goals and 23 assists from 211 appearances in all competitions.
Left-back Alonso still has one year remaining on his Chelsea contract, but Romano reports that the left-back wants to
Barcelona have already agreed a deal with Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, and are also interested in Blues skipper Cesar Azpilicueta. Chelsea also plan to reopen talks with Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, if the France winger, 25, is still available, according to 90 min.
