CHELSEA are prepared to bid again for Jules Kounde in the hope of finally signing the defender in January, according to reports.
Sevilla rejected an approach from the Blues late in the summer transfer window, despite the Premier League side being confident of sealing a deal.
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Having signed a striker in Romelu Lukaku and bolstered his midfield with Saul Niguez’s deadline day move, Thomas Tuchel is said to want a new centre-back as a top priority.
The sale of Kurt Zouma to West Ham and the end of 36-year-old Thiago Silva’s contract next summer has heightened the need for a new recruit.
As reported by Evening Standard, Kounde remains a top target and will be tracked by Chelsea over the coming months.
The France international, 22, has a £68million release clause and is under contract to 2024.
But he was reportedly furious after he was denied a move to Stamford Bridge by Sevilla.
The LaLiga side were said to be willing to do a deal for below his release clause but rejected Chelsea’s £42.8m offer.
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Director of football Monchi has claimed that the Prem title challengers were given a deadline to launch their bid, which they missed.
He said: “It was an important offer, considering the current world where there are so many hardships, but it did not meet our demands, conditions, or quantities.
“I spoke to the player’s agent some time ago because the more time that passed, the more difficult it would be for him to leave. We put as a deadline the [August] 20th, and we extended that to the 25th.
“We responded with a counter-offer with a deadline of last Friday night (August 27) and they have not responded.”
Chelsea also hope to secure the long-term futures of defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Discussions over new contracts are underway with the German’s deal expiring in June.
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