Chelsea are hoping to wrap up the talks for landing the coveted signature of long-standing target Jules Kounde in the forthcoming weeks.
The Frenchman’s arrival on the scene at Stamford Bridge is sure to shake things up for Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea who prepare for a defensive exodus this summer with the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
Of the aforementioned names, Rudiger’s departure would hit the west London heavyweights the hardest in light of the Germany international’s ever-increasing importance on the Chelsea teamsheet which earned him much love from the Blues faithful even as his future hanged in the balance.
Rudiger, who is set to put pen to paper on a four year deal with his suitors Real Madrid, was an indispensable figure at the back for Chelsea since Tuchel took charge at the Bridge from Frank Lampard with the latter relegating Rudiger to the very fringes of his first team fold.
The 29-year-old’s exit from the Blues camp will come as a major blow to Tuchel’s plans of his side bridging the gap with Manchester City and Liverpool come the start of the new campaign with both teams going neck to neck in the race for the Premier League crown right to the final day of the season.
Kounde’s joining the Blues which is reported to be all but confirmed, would, however, provide some much-needed respite for the Chelsea supporters who are fretting over the lack of quality options in the defensive lineup that their side boasts of.
Jules Kounde will be outstanding at Chelsea. The difference between players that want to play for the club and players that want to play for the wage is vast.
Kounde has always wanted the club, that says it all.
— Jai Mcintosh (@Jai_Mcintosh) May 27, 2022
Tuchel gains a highly-rated talent in the 23-year-old Kounde who has excelled during his stint for Sevilla in the La Liga and had Manchester United and Liverpool chasing his signature as well only for the player to have his heart set on making the move to the English capital to join Chelsea.
He would be key to bolstering Chelsea defensively at a time when Thomas Tuchel’s men have looked vulnerable in the final stages of the now concluded season against teams that took advantage of the ageing Thiago Silva and Azpilicueta in the backline.
There would be pressure building on Tuchel to bring in another player to add to his defensive lineup besides Kounde with the Chelsea manager losing two top-class centre-backs in Christensen and Rudiger who had emerged as pivotal names on the team sheet in recent seasons.
Leicester City’s Çağlar Söyüncü is another player believed to be a name scouted by the Chelsea camp with the Turkish defender’s future at the King Power Stadium hanging in the balance beyond the summer.
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The 2022-23 campaign would be one where Tuchel is expected to deliver at the biggest stage in domestic football for his side, the Premier League, and with this season’s misfiring displays sure to cause the Chelsea fans to hope for their players to do well, a strong defensive lineup is something the Chelsea gaffer is believed to be eyeing and rightly so!
