Chelsea’s plans to sign Jules Kounde have potentially hit a stumbling block, with makeweight Kurt Zouma preferring to stay in the Premier League.
Kounde is a hot commodity in the transfer window this summer, with the France centre back having been linked with both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
However this week it’s been reported that Chelsea are set to beat their rivals to the signing of the Sevilla defender.
The Blues are reportedly willing to offer Zouma as part of the deal, with the defender having fallen down the pecking order under Thomas Tuchel.
That could be a sticking point for the transfer however, with Zouma actually wanting to stay in London, even if it means a move from west to east.
West Ham United have also been linked with the 26-year-old and, according to the Daily Mail, he wants to move to the London Stadium.
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| Zouma started 22 league games for Chelsea last season. Image: PA Images |
Blues’ director Marina Granovskaia and Sevilla director of football Monchi are reportedly holding further talks over the transfer on Friday.
Kounde has a transfer release clause of around £68 million but La Liga side Sevilla are willing to accept less than that this summer.
The fee is believed to be around £53 million, but Chelsea hope that their £25 million valuation of Zouma can help bring their outgoings down.
Zouma though is considering refusing to be a makeweight in the deal, which could change the European champions’ plans.
West Ham are believed to be interested in a £20 million move for the former Everton loanee but whether they would go up another £5 million remains to be seen.
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| Kounde is a wanted man in England. Image: PA Images |
As well as a centre back, Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for a world class striker this summer, as they look to close the gap to Manchester City at the top of the table.
They have been linked with Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland in recent months.
According to reports in Italy though, they are willing to smash the Premier League transfer record in order to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge.
Featured Image Credit: PA