There are just four weeks remaining of the summer transfer window and despite the additions of Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina, Chelsea still have work to do. The departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set the Blues up for a rebuild ahead of 2022/23 and that work still needs to be done.
While a number of players are still expected to leave, the Blues' focus remains on strengthening that backline. Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are the subject of Todd Boehly's attempts to provide Thomas Tuchel with new tools.
football.london understand that Chelsea have agreed a fee worth £52.5million for the Spaniard, although the deal has yet to be fully signed off by the Seagulls. Things have not progressed so far with Fofana yet however.
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There are indications that the French central defender would be interested in a move, with the Blues having spoken to the 21-year-old's representatives. Leicester don't appear enthusiastic to facilitate a transfer for a player who signed a deal to keep him at the King Power Stadium until 2027.
Nevertheless, Fofana appears to be pushing for the move with speculation the youngster believes that he has an agreement that the Foxes will accept a fair offer. It's said that the Midlands side will be asking for in the region of £80 million with Chelsea entering the process with a £60 million bid. It's not an insurmountable gap but it remains significant for the moment.
football.london understands Chelsea are determined to bring Fofana to Stamford Bridge before next month's deadline. However, Leicester's stance seems unlikely to soften, particularly with the prospect of losing James Maddison in August.
It is a situation that Boehly must be wary of. Time is precious in the final weeks of the transfer window and the Blues cannot afford to waste time in strengthening their backline.
Dealing with a club that does not want to sell can be difficult. Manchester City found 12 months ago despite Harry Kane's willingness to make the move to the Premier League champions, Tottenham and Daniel Levy were unwavering.
The England forward was late in returning to training at Hotspur Way and missed the Lilywhites' opening day win over the Citizens in a culmination of a number of actions that suggested his future was in doubt. Spurs only became more steadfast in their position, with it almost becoming a point of principle to keep the player.
Pep Guardiola's side played it coy around their interest in Kane, and certainly showed they were capable of impressive things without completing the signing but ultimately were unwilling to part with the money needed to prise the Spurs star away. Instead they waited and pounced for Erling Haaland this summer.
Chelsea don't necessarily have the same luxury, even if experienced figures like Cesar Azpilicueta stay. The likes of Thiago Silva is out of contract is less than 12 months time and the pressure will continue. How feasible transfers are at the moment are crucial for the club, and time cannot be wasted on dead-ends.
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