Round-Up: Blues close deal for 24-year-old player, Sevilla defender on Radar, as Tuchel told about possible £100 signing
Chelsea set to offer new deal for 24-year-old defender
Chelsea are reportedly planning to hand a new long-term deal to defender Andreas Christensen.
After only being regarded as backup under Frank Lampard, the Danish centre-back has been provided with a new lease of life by recent appointment Thomas Tuchel.
The 24-year-old centre-back who has been deputising for Thiago Silva, has helped the West London club keep clean sheets against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Man Utd in the recent weeks.
According to The Telegraph, club officials are hoping that Christensen is happy to pen fresh terms at Stamford Bridge.
The Danish defender currently has less than 18 months left on his current deal, leading to a number of clubs starting XI to monitor the situation.
Chelsea are also believed to want Antonio Rudiger to put pen on a new deal in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly stepped up their interest in securing services of Bayern Munich defensive rock Niklas Sule.
German defender has currently playing as a right-back for Bundesliga giants and his versatility has attracted interest of newly appointed Chelsea boss.
The arrival of Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge is believed to lead to a number of comings and goings during the upcoming transfer window this summer, including in defence where the Blues have not performed with any consistency.
With Thiago Silva now 36 years of age and several players having failed to justify their places in the long term, it appears that Thomas Tuchel is beginning to assess his options.
Chelsea eyeing move for 22-year-old Sevilla defender
Chelsea could reportedly capitalize on the chance to land Jules Kounde from the La Liga side Sevilla.
It has been said that the Blues’ league rivals Manchester United are looking to pull out from the hunt to sign him and they were touted as the favourites to chase him.
The French centre-half has made a name for himself in the short while he has been at the Spanish club. That has encouraged clubs from all over Europe to keep an eye on Jules and clubs are trying to sign him.
With Manchester United keen onthe player but unwilling to meet the £68m buy-out clause, it leaves other clubs in the clear to land him.
While the Red Devils were after a new centre-half to partner club-record signing Harry Maguire, they are willing to look for alternatives.
Chelsea, who are believed to be looking for a central defender themselves, could end up taking advantage of the current situation, according to a recent report by Daily Mail.
The Brazil international Thiago Silva might have been signed this campaign but he is 36 and the west Londoners need a long-term solution.
Thomas Tuchel has been promised funds and the Blues could benefit a lot if they divert some of that towards landing a centre-back of Kounde’s calibre.
The Sevilla player has a bright future ahead of him and the English giants would be wise to capitalize on the Old Trafford outfit passing up on him.
David Moyes told Chelsea to forget signing of West Ham United versatile midfielder
West Ham head-coach David Moyes claims he would not sell Declan Rice even for £100million.
Hammers co-owner David Sullivan is believed to value his prized asset at somewhere around an eye-watering nine-figure sum.
Man Utd and Chelsea are regularly rumoured with Rice, however, even those powerhouse teams face being priced out of the running.
Moyes said: “I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100m footballer. Far, far more than £100m. Far, far more.
“I look at the players who have joined some clubs from overseas and come in and nowhere near had the impact Declan Rice would have.
“I certainly wouldn’t put a price on it. You can decide which figure you want to put on it but I wouldn’t be sanctioning anything like that, that’s for sure.”
Declan Rice last week admitted he had his sights set on a English championship top-four finish with West Ham this campaign.
The West London club can boost their unlikely bid for a Champions League spot with win over Leeds on Monday night.
However, Moyes says they do not need to qualify to keep hold of the England midfielder.
He added: “Do we need the Champions League to keep Declan? No, because Declan is under contract first and foremost, so he can’t go anywhere no matter what, and I keep saying it and I hope people know that when I say something, I mean it.
“We’ve not had an offer for Declan Rice and I hope we don’t get one. And you’ve got an idea now of where we’d need to be if it was even going to be considered, certainly be me.
“If we could finish in Europe, in some sort of European position, I think it would be progress. And that would be progress for Declan Rice as well because he’s been at West Ham while they’ve been bobbing around the bottom, so this is new for Declan as well.
“Declan seems very settled and in fact he is captaining West Ham, he plays for England, and I want to keep Declan thinking that his ambitions can be achieved here at West Ham and I will have to keep pushing that and keep pushing that with the owners as well.
“For me, I have watched the prices of some players who have gone to clubs recently and they could not lace Declan Rice’s boots.”