"My understanding is" - Journalist reveals Chelsea have "matching clause" for £18m star

Chelsea included a ‘matching clause’ into the deal that took defender Marc Guehi to Crystal Palace, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

The 21-year-old departed his boyhood club on a permanent basis last July after the Eagles stumped up £18 million to secure his services following an outstanding 2020/21.

It could be a busy summer for manager Thomas Tuchel, who is expected to lose both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers over the coming months.

According to well-known reporter Fabrizio Romano, Rudiger will join La Liga champions Real Madrid on a four-year contract after an agreement was reached between the relevant parties.

Meanwhile, Spanish outlet AS claim that Christensen has finalised his move to Catalan giants Barcelona after a nine-year stay at Stamford Bridge.

The duo’s imminent departures will leave Chelsea relatively short of options at centre-back next season then, and Tuchel is expected to enter the transfer market in search of their replacements.

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One option is Seville’s Jules Kounde, with the Daily Mail claiming the France international has informed his current club of his desire to seek a new challenge.

Kounde came close to joining Chelsea last summer before the capital club refused to match his £68m release clause but could finally make the switch ahead of next season.

Another option for Tuchel could be sanctioning the return of Guehi, though, after Barclay revealed to GiveMeSport that the west London outfit can ‘match’ any offer made for him.

He told GMS: “They don’t have a buyback clause. My understanding is, they have a sort of matching clause.

“So, if a club offers whatever amount and Palace