Chelsea are fighting hard to finally secure another new defender this summer.
The transfer window has not been hugely kind to the Blues, who have suffered multiple defeats in bidding wars having started late due to the club takeover.
But there could be light at the end of the tunnel in their £50million pursuit of Brighton star Marc Cucurella.
Furthermore, Josko Gvardiol remains a target and a potential swap deal is in the offing for Wesley Fofana.
Here is your latest update of Chelsea transfer news and rumours...
Josko Gvardiol
RB Leipzig have rejected the offer of a swap deal for defender Gvardiol involving Timo Werner.
The German striker could still leave on loan to his old club, while also interesting Newcastle and Juventus, but Chelsea appear to have come unstuck in their bid for the Croatian.
A phone call between Thomas Tuchel and Gvardiol has been reported by Sport1 but Leipzig are adamant they will not sell this summer.
Marc Cucurella
Spanish defender Cucurella preferred a move to Manchester City earlier this summer but is now open to signing for Chelsea.
Brighton have set a £50m asking price for their reigning Player of the Season and Standard Sport reported earlier this week that Levi Colwill could move in the opposite direction as part of a player-plus-cash deal.
Talks will continue this week with Chelsea ready to sell Marcos Alonso or Malang Sarr if Cucurella arrives. SportItalia name Destiny Udogie of Udinese as Brighton’s ideal replacement.
Wesley Fofana
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has made clear his desire not to sell Fofana amid talk of an £85m price tag slapped on the French defender by the Foxes.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one player who has been touted as a possible makeweight in the deal yet the Telegraph report on the midfielder not wanting to leave the club.
It leaves the transfer arguably dead in the water after Rodgers declared: “He’s not for sale. He still has lots of improvements to make. He’s very happy here, he really enjoys being here.”
