CHELSEA are close to signing THREE big-money centre-backs.
PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe and Manchester City ace Nathan Ake are ‘in talks’ to follow in Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly, who has a medical on Thursday.
Chelsea’s interest in Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is said to have reached the advanced stage
PSG’s France central defender Presnel Kimpembe could cost Chelsea £34m
City attacker Raheem Sterling arrived on Wednesday for £50million as the first new recruit for Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.
Now boss Thomas Tuchel is switching to defence for a £100m-plus triple raid.
Senegal skipper Koulibaly’s £34m deal is all but complete and Fabrizio Romano reckons negotiations over Tuchel’s two other ‘priority’ targets have reached an advanced stage.
PSG have reportedly accepted around the same for 28-cap Frenchman Kimpembe, 26, and City want £45m for 27-year-old Holland powerhouse Ake.
Tuchel has lost Andreas Christensen and last season’s star central defender Antonio Rudiger on free transfers.
And he is also keen on finding a long-term successor to Thiago Silva, 37, whose contract expires in June 2023.
Wing-backs Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso could also depart this summer.
But Tuchel is now on the brink of sorting out his main problem position – the middle of the backline.
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Juventus and Holland hero Matthijs de Ligt was a prime option but appears likely to join Bayern Munich or Barcelona.
And although France star Jules Kounde has been continually linked with Chelsea and Arsenal this summer, Sevilla have stood firm.
The same two London giants were also linked with Torino’s Gleison Bremer.
Instead, though, Tuchel is on the brink of landing Koulibaly, Kimpembe and Ake.
