Chelsea are eyeing several centre-back options this summer as Thomas Tuchel continues his squad rebuild in the transfer window. The Blues lost the duo of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen as free agents, leaving the side searching for new options in their backline.
Work has already been done to mitigate the issue, with Kalidou Koulibaly joining the club from Napoli. The fee is set at roughly £33million, though Tuchel is said to want more centre-backs in his squad for the upcoming campaign.
football.london understands that the Blues are set to bid for Sevilla's Jules Kounde and PSG's Presnel Kimpembe in the coming week, further bolstering the squad. The former has been a long-term target at Chelsea, though they could be set to battle Barcelona for his signature.
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While Kimpembe could reunite with Tuchel, whom he played under in Paris, there appears to be a reluctance to leave his current club should an offer come in. With the possibility the side could miss out on one or both of the defenders, it appears alternatives are being lined up.
According to the Evening Standard, RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol is being monitored as a different transfer option, should the other two fall through. The 20-year-old is tipped for big things, having played on the left-side of a back three since making the breakthrough to first-team football.
CIES currently value the youngster at £102million, showing the promise and potential longevity of the Croatia international. Last season Gvardiol made 29 Bundesliga appearances and could be ready for a Premier League switch, should the Blues make their move for the defender.
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