Chelsea have reportedly launched a £40 million bid for PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe after failing to land Manchester City’s Nathan Ake.
Daily Mail has offered a fresh update on Chelsea’s pursuit of centre-back Presnel Kimpembe. The Blues have tabled a £40 million bid for the French international, which falls short of Paris Saint-Germain’s valuation.
Having lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen as free agents, Chelsea were in dire need of fixing their backline only a couple of weeks ago. But Kalidou Koulibaly has been signed from Napoli to help address the issue and looks like being a solid addition at Stamford Bridge, although Thomas Tuchel is still keen to reinforce his backline further, with PSG’s Kimpembe next on his wish list.
Manchester City’s Nathan Ake has been extensively linked with a summer move to the west London outfit. But Chelsea have been unable to reach an agreement with the Premier League champions, and the ex-Bournemouth defender now looks set to stay at the Etihad this summer.
As such, Kimpembe, who has previously worked under Tuchel at PSG, has been identified as a potential option for Chelsea as they look to bring more quality signings through the door this summer. It is understood the Chelsea boss is keen to reunite with his former charge and admires his defensive abilities.
It now seems Chelsea are ready to back their manager’s choice after making a £40 million offer for the French defender, who could be allowed to depart from Parc des Princes this summer if PSG’s valuation is met.
A PSG youth academy graduate, the 26-year-old was promoted to the first team in 2015. Since then, Kimpembe has come leaps and bounds, establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in Ligue 1. Last season, he appeared in 30 league games as the Parisians won the title.
Even though Kimpembe has two years left on his contract, PSG are open to letting him go for the right price as they begin a fresh chapter under new boss Christophe Galtier. Juventus, who are likely to lose Matthijs de Ligt to Bayern Munich, are also interested in Kimpembe, but the player is leaning towards a reunion with Tuchel Chelsea.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner was a vital cog in Tuchel’s PSG team that won six trophies between 2018 to 2020 and finished runners-up in the UEFA Champions League during the 2019/20 season. Kimpembe is fully acquainted with Tuchel’s demands and tactics and would be an excellent addition to the Chelsea squad.
Chelsea have already made contact with the Ligue 1 champions and are awaiting a response after submitting a £40 million bid for Kimpembe. But the Blues will likely have to fork out a little more to land the Frenchman, with PSG currently for a fee in the region of €65 million for the player. Whether Chelsea can find a middle ground in negotiations with PSG to reach a full agreement for the 26-year-old remains to be seen.
