Chelsea target Jonathan Clauss has his heart set on a Marseille transfer as Todd Boehly instead diverts attentions to Kalidou Koulibaly, Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe.
The Blues' defensive re-shuffle is really starting to take some shape now after Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen departed for La Liga sometime ago now. Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta could both follow suit very soon as Barcelona ramp up their pursuits of the Spanish duo.
This has all culminated in manager Thomas Tuchel demanding three defenders are signed in this new defensive re-shuffle with Levi Colwill's future very much still up in the air after reports surfaced on Thursday suggesting that the current World Champions were looking for a permanent sale of the former Huddersfield Town loanee.
READ MORE: What Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea transfer means for N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Edouard Mendy
Kalidou Koulibaly is set to sign a five-year contract after a £34million fee was agreed between Chelsea and Napoli. Edouard Mendy's Senegal teammate was spotted in London in Thursday ahead of a medical before he jets off to the USA to join in with the pre-season preparations. An announcement is thought to be very imminent in this regard.
Presnel Kimpembe and Nathan Ake are the other two defenders that are at an 'advanced' stage now and the agreement for these two signings would all but shut off the door to the likes of Jules Kounde and even Clauss himself.
Therefore, no wonder that the Lens defender, despite having a dream to play in west London, has set his sights elsewhere as Marseille is reportedly now his preferred destination according to the latest reports.
Get French Football News have reported that William Saliba's former loan club have submitted an opening £4million bid, which has been turned down by the Ligue 1 outfit who are demanding around £9m to sell the 29-year-old this summer.
With a Chelsea approach now looking highly unlikely, Lens' No. 11 may never get the chance to feature at Stamford Bridge, unless Todd Boehly were to make a dramatic U-turn in Kimpembe or Ake negotiations. Maybe, Clauss could be the right-back cover Tuchel is reportedly looking for to act as back-up to Reece James, as per The Telegraph.
Chelsea fans- Should the club still sign Jonathan Clauss even with all of Kalidou Koulibaly, Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe set to join in the near future? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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