Chelsea could still receive significant Kurt Zouma transfer windfall after West Ham reopen talks to sign the French International amid the Blues' interest to sign International compatriot Jules Kounde this summer.
Zouma, 26, has been the defender most heavily linked away from SW6 this transfer window as Thomas Tuchel looks to freshen up the backline ahead of the upcoming 2021/22 season.
football.london understands that the Jose Mourinho signing is keen to remain in London if possible if the west Londoners are to show him the exit door this summer.
This has put the brakes on a potential part-exchange deal to bring £68m Kounde to Stamford Bridge this summer, with Marina Granovskaia now required to cough up a significant lump sum to tempt Sevilla's director Monchi into releasing the Euro 2020 player from the Andalusian-based club this summer.
‘Many clubs have asked for Kounde,’ Monchi said.
‘Of course there’s interest but no official bid is on the table.
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen. We will sell if an important bid arrives, this is our policy to improve the team.’
The 26-year-old reportedly rejected a West Ham United move earlier this term, but it seems that his mind may have been changed since the Hammers' initial interest.
This is because the east Londoners have reportedly reopened talks with the Champions League winner according to the London Evening Standard.
Additionally to Zouma's potential acquisition, David Moyes' side are also in talks to sign £14m Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina this summer as he looks to add depth to his Europa League competing side for the upcoming season.
"We always want competition and I am always looking to see what options there are," Moyes said.
"I am hoping by the end of the window we might have some more additions but I can’t guarantee anything. There is a long way to go in the window yet.
Granvoskaia and co reportedly value the central defender at £25m, so it remains to be seen whether West Ham are able to negotiate that down, with it currently 'unlikely' that they will pay the required asking price at this current moment.
Under former boss Frank Lampard and current boss Tuchel, Zouma made just 22 Premier League starts last season and was an unused substitute for Chelsea during the Champions League final in May.
Zouma's departure could potentially go a long way in providing the funds for the club to get the signing of one of the best defenders in La Liga over the line before the summer window shuts.
