Tuchel admits defensive recruit rethink as talented youngster pens fresh deal

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel admits they have to rethink Jules Kounde pursuit amid Trevoh Chalobah’s new deal.

According to Football.London, Thomas Tuchel said that Chelsea management has to rethink their approach to pursuing long-term target Jules Kounde after Trevoh Chalobah was offered a new long-term deal. 

Chelsea was a long term admirer of Kounde, and they even tried to bring him to Stamford Bridge earlier this summer. But his current team Sevilla complicated the proceedings at the last moment and he ended up staying put in La Liga.

It is believed that Chelsea management was in talks for weeks with Sevilla to pursue the defender. But Sevilla increased the asking rate for their player at the last moment as they had limited time to bring in a replacement. Thus Chelsea’s official bid was rejected. 

In an interview, Sevilla sporting director, Monchi explained that it was a hefty amount that Chelsea were offering but couldn’t meet their asking price. 

“The proposal for Koundé last summer [from Chelsea] was great, the most important we received in our history – but it wasn’t meeting our price tag,”

Trevoh Chalobah was set to go on a loan this August and return in the following summer window. But Thomas Tuchel was floored by his performances and changed the plans for the youngster’s development.

The 22-years old played pre-season friendlies against Bournemouth, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and gave praiseworthy performances. But, his breakthrough came against Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup, where he dominated the field for the entire 120 mins. 

This season the English defender has featured in 10 games for the Blues and has stepped up as needed. The Chelsea management too was aware of his abilities and offered him a new four-and-a-half-year deal seeing his growth. 

Trevoh Chalobah’s new deal has created questions regarding Chelse’s pursuit of Jules Kounde. The Blues’ manager made it clear that they don’t require a defender right now, and they’ll rethink their approach depending on the need.

“So you cannot say what we tried in the summer did not happen, so we will try again for sure in the winter. Sometimes it is like this. If we see the same need, but clearly, Trevoh is now here with us, and he deserves to be here with us. It had nothing to do with if we can sign another central defender or not. But he stepped up.”

More Chelsea News

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• Transfer News: Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek now on the radar of Jose Mourinho

It is f air to say that Chalobah’s fine performances have made Tuchel aware of his abilities. He has shown himself capable of stepping in when needed and the Blues can choose against prioritizing a new centre back.

In the winter transfer window, the London club has big plans, but it seems Jules Kounde won’t be included in those plans at this moment. The 48-years-old manager appears to put his faith in a Chelsea graduate for the season.