Chelsea are ‘increasingly confident’ of securing a deal for Jules Kounde with the Blues favourites to sign the Sevilla defender.
Chelsea have a long-standing interest in the centre-back and tried to sign him last summer, before renewing their efforts during the current window following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are facing competition from Barcelona for the 23-year-old, though the Mirror are reporting that Chelsea are frontrunners following the Spanish side’s imminent capture of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
Barcelona have already invested in the signing of Raphinha from Leeds, while both Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen have signed on free transfers.
Chelsea’s superior finances make the west Londoners favourites for Kounde, who is next on the club’s wish-list following the arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues had been interested in a deal to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus, though Bayern Munich are closing in on the Dutch international after agreeing a fee with the Italian side.
Chelsea also retain an interest in PSG centre-back Presnel Kimpembe, but Kounde remains the focus following a failed pursuit for the France international last summer.
