Chelesa show they’re still not satisfied with their back line

Thomas Tuchel has Chelsea off to a flying start this season, but the Blues still want to make a high-profile signing to strengthen their back line. 

Chelsea dominated Arsenal for a 2-0 victory on Sunday but keeping a clean sheet against Mikel Arteta’s side did nothing to lessen Thomas Tuchel’s desire to strengthen his options in central defense. The Blues are still working diligently to pry Jules Kounde away from Sevilla before the summer transfer window slams shut.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are in “direct contact” with Sevilla about a potential deal for the classy centre back. The La Liga side are determined not to sell Kounde in the final days of the window. They understand time will be required to replace them with another player in their starting XI.

That reality puts Chelsea under modest pressure to hurry forward with their negotiations. The Blues certainly have the financial might to clinch a deal, but the team’s transfer coffers are somewhat diminished after their extravagant purchase of striker Romelu Lukaku last week.

Is this actually a purchase Chelsea need to make?

The short answer to that query is a resounding no. Neither Andres Christiansen nor Toni Rudiger bathed themselves in glory against Arsenal on the weekend, but they were solid enough to allow Chelsea to win comfortably. The presence of Trevor Chaloboah also gives Tuchel and his staff an intriguing young centre back to work with if either of their more established starters falters.

Moving for Kounde is, however, a move Chelsea should look to make. They are a team with the financial resources required to deploy starts in almost every position on the pitch. Kounde is just the sort of young defender they should be looking to add to strengthen their current starting XI for years to come. Such players don’t come cheap and that’s why Chelsea haven’t been able to push this deal across the line as of yet.

It is still very likely that Kounde will find his way to Stamford Bridge in the coming days. He’s simply too good a fit in Tuchel’s system to pass up. The Blues may be forced to pay over the odds to sign the classy defender, but it’s an overpay Chelsea can comfortably afford.