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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Chelsea turn attention to Presnel Kimpembe as Thomas Tuchel eyes reunion with PSG defender

Chelsea have sounded out the possibility of signing Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe this summer.

It remains unclear whether the 26-year-old is a viable signing but there’s a belief in some quarters that the defender could be available for around £50million. The France international has previously worked with Tuchel.

Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly has agreed to join Chelsea for £33m, with Manchester City’s Nathan Ake in advanced talks with the Blues.

Kimpembe is currently scheduled to join up on the Parisiens’ tour of Japan with Chelsea ahead on their pre-season programme in the United States.

The signing of three centre backs could signal moves away from Stamford Bridge for several players including Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso - who are targeted by Barcelona.

The Catalan giants met co-owner and interim sporting director Todd Boehly in a restaurant a few days ago to thrash out a deal.

There’s also now considerable doubts over former Huddersfield Town loanee Levi Colwill and his future in west London. The 19-year-old is one of the most exciting young defenders in the country but has a host of offers from various Premier League clubs.

Should Chelsea sign two left-sided central defenders, he would deem his chances for a future at Chelsea as unviable.

The activity around the defence is coupled with the signing of attackers as Raheem Sterling joins Chelsea from Manchester City for £47.5m. He became their first signing of the summer with other forward options being considered by Boehly.

They include AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry.

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