Chelsea transfer news: Buying Kounde tipped to be ‘the first thing’ Tuchel sorts this summer

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel will make signing Sevilla central defender Jules Kounde a priority when the transfer window reopens in the summer, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Kounde has been a long-term target for the German, but he has been unable to welcome him to Stamford Bridge since taking charge more than 12 months ago.

The Athletic have revealed Tuchel has already drawn up a three-man shortlist of summer targets despite the winter window shutting just a matter of days ago.

The report suggests Kounde is among those names, along with West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice and Monaco ace Aurelien Tchouameni.

Tuchel clearly admires Kounde, 23, as he came close to securing the seven-cap France international’s services last summer.

Chelsea fell short of meeting the central defender’s £66.5million release clause and were unable to strike a deal before the August deadline passed.

Spanish media outlet AS claimed Tuchel was readying a fresh bid for Kounde last week, but a move failed to materialise.

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Brown believes Tuchel will be hoping to tie up a deal which brings Kounde to Stamford Bridge early in the summer transfer window.

The journalist understands the 48-year-old is still a big fan of the Frenchman despite already being frustrated in his efforts to link-up with the Sevilla man.

He reckons the future of central defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen could play a key role in deciding how Tuchel goes about his business.

Brown told GIVEMESPORT: “I think once it becomes clear what Rudiger and Christensen want to do, that’s probably the first thing they’ll do this summer.”

Rudiger’s £100,000-per-week contract is due to