CHELSEA have been dealt a transfer blow with Presnel Kimpembe reportedly in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a new contract.
The French defender, 27, is heading into the final 18 months of his current deal at the Parc des Princes.
In the summer, he was linked with a transfer away from the Ligue 1 champions.
He angered his club with comments in the summer hinting at a possible exit.
Chelsea appeared at the front of the queue and hoped to secure a £38million deal ahead of Juventus – although PSG wanted £60m.
Kimpembe then decided to stay put at the club he joined way back in 2005 aged ten.
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And now L’Equipe report he plays to extend his spell with his boyhood club beyond 2024.
Kimpembe, who missed six weeks this season due to a hamstring problem, has formed a strong relationship with new PSG boss Christophe Galtier.
Galtier sees the centre-back as a key player in his defence – with Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos the other options.
Contract talks resumed following his return from injury.
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However, they are said to be less advanced than the negotiations for PSG team-mates Marquinhos and Marco Verratti and may not be signed until after the World Cup, where Kimpembe is hoping to represent defending champs France in Qatar.
Chelsea lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in the summer but did sign Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana – while fellow new signing Marc Cucurella can play at left centre-back, too.
Graham Potter also has Trevoh Chalobah, Cesar Azpilicueta and 38-year-old Thiago Silva at his disposal.
The Blues also missed out on Jules Kounde before landing Fofana in a £75m deal and have been linked with Inter Milan ace Milan Skriniar, who becomes a free agent next summer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
