CHELSEA are reportedly preparing a bid to steal highly-rated Sevilla and France defender Jules Kounde away from Tottenham.
The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs over recent weeks.
And Manchester City also had a bid of £47million rejected by the LaLiga club, leading the Spanish outfit to insist he will not be leaving for anything less than £69m.
According to Eldesmarque, that has now led to Chelsea declaring their interest as they look to hijack the deal for Kounde.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are thought to be the only possible destination for Kounde in Spain.
This is because Barcelona’s financial difficulties mean they will not be able to afford the extortionate price tag which has been placed on the Frenchman.
Kounde was a part of Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad that were dumped out of Euro 2020 in the last 16 by Switzerland.
But that has not diminished the interest in Kounde from English clubs.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea or Spurs will be able to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel’s European champions are also being linked with a move for Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
The £26million-rated France midfielder, 18, reportedly wants to stay in his home country by joining PSG.
But Le Parisien suggest Chelsea have spoken directly to Rennes about him.
Blues’ boss Thomas Tuchel hopes to strengthen his engine room after Scotland ace Billy Gilmour switched to promoted Norwich on loan for the season.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid have also been linked with three-cap starlet Camavinga, who has just a year left on his contract.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
