Chelsea have been dealt yet another transfer blow this summer as Benjamin Pavard is keen to stay at Bayern Munich, according to reports.
One of the Blues’ main tasks for the summer window was to sign reinforcements for their defence following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Despite completing the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, Thomas Tuchel’s side have been unsuccessful in the recruitment of other players for the backline.
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Chelsea have lost out on the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde, with the latter seemingly close to a move last year but opting to join Barcelona this summer.
Tuchel is thought to still be keen on bringing another two centre-backs to the club before the end of the window, but there is a sense that time is now running out for the club to strengthen for the new campaign.
This is now more likely to be the case, considering another one of their targets is now set to be ruled out.
According to Loic Tanzi, Pavard has decided that he wants to stay at Bayern this summer.
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It was previously reported that the Frenchman would have been open to joining Chelsea if the Blues were to make a serious offer.
However this now looks unlikely to happen and therefore Tuchel’s side will have to focus on other targets.
They have also been linked with Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana in the last week, and the club are reported to be readying their first offer for the 21-year-old.
The Foxes insist that he is not for sale, but Chelsea could still be in with the chance of signing him.
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His valuation is said to be around £70 million, but the Blues do not want to waste anymore time in their pursuit of the defender and will soon make their first offer.
If an offer is deemed to be acceptable by Leicester, then they will not stand in his way of a departure, especially considering his desire to play for France at the World Cup later this year.
Manchester City and PSG are also said to be interested in the centre-back, whose contract at the King Power Stadium doesn’t expire until 2027.
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Chelsea kick-off the new Premier League campaign with a trip to Everton next Saturday, and Tuchel has now revealed their plans in order to prepare for their visit to Goodison Park.
“We play another match here against Udinese, another team, to have minutes in our legs. Then it’s two day break,” said the German boss on Friday.
“Then we prepare nothing else but Everton because they are right in front of the door and we need to improve, we are not ready yet.
"We don’t have to be ready yet, we have another week and then it’s the time to be on the best level and there’s still some way to go. It was a pretty long pre-season, tiring and exhausting to be in the US for so long and having another travel today in the circumstances.
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“Not so easy, pretty demanding, always nice when the season arrives, you feel the tension and pressure which we all enjoy. We will have this next week.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Benjamin Pavard, Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Bayern Munich