Milan Skriniar has been a player linked to Chelsea, like new signing Kalidou Koulibaly, since Antonio Conte's time in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Now, with Jules Kounde seemingly moving ever-closer to Barcelona as confirmed by their latest leak, new owner Todd Boehly is having to search for new options for Thomas Tuchel's side. After the loss against Arsenal, one aspect of Tuchel's post-match press conference that was certain was his message to the new board that a lot more transfer business needs to be done if his side are to be in for a good Premier League campaign.
"There is no update, no update," the German briefly answered when asked about Kounde and transfers after the 4-0 defeat. "The analysing of the season does not change because of this game. Unfortunately, it proved my point and the last week proves my point. I would prefer to not be right and I did everything to prove myself wrong, but at the moment I feel I was right when I look at the last season and at the parts of the game where we struggled and how we struggled.
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"We got sanctioned and players left us, we know that some players are trying to leave us, and this is where it is. We had an urgent appeal for quality players and a huge amount of quality players. We've got two quality players – that is no doubt – but we are not competitive like this and unfortunately, we could see it today."
Who could next be on the agenda for Chelsea in their desperate search of new centre-backs? Amid talk that the club tried to launch what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid for Paris Saint-Germain-bound Nordi Mukiele, Skriniar and Presnel Kimpembe have risen back up the agenda.
Both PSG and Inter Milan are demanding steep fees for both defenders and with the European pair knowing just how desperate Chelsea are for new reinforcements in those areas. The Blues have no room to manoeuvre regarding trying to negotiate a cut-price deal for either of the pair.
Kimpembe is being priced at £60million, while the Slovakian international, whose move to the French capital has stalled to date, will set back the west Londoners a fee in the region of £60million.
"Kimpembe has always been a player appreciated by Chelsea and he is still in the list," Fabrizio Romano confirmed in Que Golazo's most recent podcast recording on Monday.
"But it's another complicated negotiation because PSG are asking for €65million - €70million (£55.1million - £59.4million) and Chelsea are willing to offer €50million (£42.4million), so at the moment, there is still no agreement between the two clubs but I don't see PSG accepting €50million in this case, so let's keep Kimpembe in the list but they will need to change the proposal or it will be complicated."
He then added on the Inter defender: "Milan Skriniar is a player that has always been appreciated by Thomas Tuchel but the same, Inter missing out on Gleison Bremer, so they don't have a replacement for Skriniar.
"And this is why they are wanting to receive €70million - €75million (£59million - £63million) for Skriniar or nothing. Also, because their mission is to keep Skriniar. They want to keep him and extend his contract. Inter insist to keep the player are PSG are working a long time to sign him but still no agreement.
"Also Skriniar is not an easy one. It's going to be like a domino. We are going to have to wait and see what happens because as of today, they are still hoping for the green light on Kounde but if they don't get that, they will start concrete negotiations with other targets."
Perhaps Chelsea's relationship with Inter Milan could help them land the likes of Denzel Dumfries and his 27-year-old defensive compatriot together. After all, the Blues have given their Italian counterparts the courtesy to potentially keep Romelu Lukaku for two seasons.
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