With the takeover on the verge of completion, Chelsea are moving forward with their summer transfer plans. Sevilla’s Jules Kounde remains the primary target, but the Blues also have Barcelona duo Ousmane Dembele and Sergino Dest on their shortlist.
With Chelsea set to confirm the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium takeover in the coming days, plans are underway to strengthen Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes’s squads for the seasons ahead.
The attention turns to the men’s senior team, who finished 19 points off league leaders Manchester City. With several areas in need of refurbishment, the club is likely to dip into the transfer market – a transfer kitty of 200 million pounds, boosted by sales of fringe players, has been earmarked for summer spend.
As per The Athletic, Sevilla centre-back Kounde remains the Blues’ primary target following a failed move last summer. The Spanish side view the Frenchman as a key but sellable asset; in the report, a fee of 50 million pounds plus add-ons has been touted.
Chelsea also have RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol on their radar, while academy graduate Levi Colwill will be looked at during pre-season, before his immediate future is determined.
The club will also be evaluating options at wingback, with Marcos Alonso expected to leave the club this summer. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Sergino Dest has reportedly been the Blues’ target since January, given his proclivity to play on either side of the pitch.
As per the report, Chelsea are also interested in Barca winger Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman’s contract ends this summer, and he is yet to reach an agreement with the Spanish giants over a renewal. The Blues are watching the situation closely, having added the 25-year-old on their shortlist earlier this year given his status as a soon-to-be free agent.
