Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is set to meet the representatives of some of the club’s defensive targets today, according to Dean Jones.
The transfer insider has told GIVEMESPORT that the west London outfit have already begun talks with potential alternatives to Jules Kounde and that Boehly is set for a fresh round of discussions.
What is the latest transfer news involving Chelsea?
As per the Daily Mail, Chelsea are currently weighing up a move for Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana.
The above comes after another central defensive target, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, closes in on a switch to Barcelona.
Thomas Tuchel was eyeing Kounde following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, which have left Chelsea light at the back.
As well as Fofana, Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar is also thought to be on the Blues’ list of alternatives to Kounde.
What has Jones said about Chelsea’s centre-back pursuit?
Jones has revealed that Boehly has meetings scheduled today with the representatives of different defensive targets.
Speaking to GMS, the journalist said: “Chelsea have begun talks about back-up defensive options, and I understand Todd Boehly has a couple of key meetings on Wednesday with representatives of players they are looking to recruit in that area.
“They have to move fast with this; Tuchel is not happy with the current options he has.”
Will Chelsea sign Fofana this summer?
It seems that Fofana is one name Tuchel has handed Boehly after watching Kounde slip away, but signing the Leicester man is not going to be easy.
Fofana has a contract up until 2027, so the Foxes hold all the power here. If they do decide to sell him this summer, he is undoubtedly going to cost a lot of money.
In fact, according to a report from RMC Sport last month, Chelsea would be looking at €80m (£67m) minimum to sign the Frenchman.
Whether they would be willing to pay that remains to be seen, but it is easy to see why Leicester would value him at that figure.
Last season, Fofana won three aerial duels per league game, which was the second-highest average in Brendan Rodgers’ squad (via WhoScored), as he returned from a serious injury.
Speaking about the former Saint-Etienne man earlier this year, Rodgers said (via The Guardian): “His anticipation as a defender is top – he just has an in-built brain for the game, his reading of the game is great.”
Considering all of the above, there is no way Leicester are going to let Fofana leave on the cheap this summer. If Chelsea want to sign him, which does seem to be the case following the Kounde mess, then they are going to have to splash the cash.
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