Chelsea are reportedly in pole position to sign longstanding target Aurelien Tchouameni with Thomas Tuchel keen to improve upon his midfield options in the English capital.
The France international Tchouameni has been a name scouted by the Blues camp since the summer despite Tuchel bringing in Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid on deadline day.
An uninspiring loan stint from the Spaniard, however, has sparked off speculation that Chelsea are in line to send him back to Atletico come next summer and look at alternative names to bolster their ranks when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year.
West Ham United’s midfield maestro Declan Rice is one player on the shopping list for Chelsea but with the England international set to come at a sizable price tag, Tchouameni is being lined up as a plan B signing at Stamford Bridge.
The Telegraph’s Matt Law while speaking to the London Is Blue podcast has claimed that Chelsea are poised to complete Tchouameni’s signing sooner rather than later heading into the January window.
“It feels like it’s heading in that direction.
“I think he shares an agent with Kounde whom Chelsea are very much in touch with, and I think there’s a good relationship between Chelsea and Kounde’s agent from everything that went on in the summer.
“There was certainly no blame attached to Kounde’s agent that the deal ended up heading south, it was all put on Sevilla’s changing the goalposts.
“I know Kounde’s agent was annoyed with Sevilla.
“It feels like Tchouameni would be the sort of cheaper option than Declan Rice. Whether that makes him option A, let’s see.
“But I certainly think, at the moment, there’s a direction of travel that is quite positive in terms of Chelsea and Tchouameni.”
