As Chelsea's defensive targets vary from world beaters to relative unknown quantities and the progress being made to sign new reinforcements continues to be slow, the Blues have been offered reasons behind their transfer window misses this summer.
With Jules Kounde taking up over one-year of attention Chelsea made late reservations regarding the player, Matthijs de Ligt preferring Germany for his next move, Presnel Kimpembe being settled in France and Wesley Fofana an expensive addition for a 21-year-old, Todd Boehly is scanning the European football market for alternative options.
Be it Benjamin Pavard or Denzel Dumfries, the shortlist has been anything but short with new links cropping up each day and football.london understanding that links for Bayern Munich's versatile Frenchman being concrete, it is still set to be an entertaining end to the window for Chelsea.
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Boehly has sometimes been too late and too cautious with his attempts at negotiation and that has proved to be the case with Nordi Mukiele. The 24-year-old fits the profile as a right-sided defender that can play at fullback, wingback and centre-back, but the Blues interest came too late into his talks with Paris Saint-Germain, he has admitted.
Speaking to French publication L'Equipe, Mukiele was asked if he considered a move to Stamford Bridge. He said: "Honestly, no. Once I’d given my word to Luís Campos… At no moment did I hesitate." The Blues offered an 11th hour option for the former RB Leipzig man but fell short, possibly preoccupied with conversations for Jules Kounde.
Mukiele has also given his own honest verdict on the move, handing Chelsea an explanation for the transfer and a reason to be wary. "There’s always some risk when you join a big club. But I think I’m ready," he said. "If you asked me that question two years ago I would have said I’m not ready. Now, I know that I am. At Leipzig, I’ve played in Europe, and had big performances against Paris, Manchester City and United. If a player wants to develop he has to go to big clubs and that’s where I am now. And I am ready. So yes, it’s a risk, but a very good risk.
"It makes sense because Paris {PSG] has, for a while, been aiming for big things. And that’s what I’m looking for. Coming to PSG is a challenge for me and it fits with what I had inside of me."
Mukiele has also been speaking to one of Tuchel's former players to get an insight into the French champions, explaining his conversation with Christopher Nkunku who left the club whilst Tuchel was in charge at PSG. "Of course [I spoke to him]. We didn’t go into the details but he told me I would be going into a dressing room of winners and that I needed to have that mentality from day one."
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