Jules Kounde is linked with a move to Arsenal

Thomas Tuchel is thought to want to tinker things in the Chelsea back-line. But the German has been dealt his first blow in that department. Chelsea were reportedly hot and ahead in the chase for sensational right-back Achraf Hakimi but have been pipped to the finish by PSG.

Tuchel wants to give Chelsea's defensive line a new look before the new season kicks off. According to the Athletic, the German boss is already considering switching from a back three to a back four. While that is on the cards, Blues, recently, have been heavily linked with Sevilla and French creative centre-back Jules Kounde.

Reports milling about say Chelsea lead the race to capture the 22-year-old signature ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, who've both been linked to the Frenchman.

Whether Tuchel will switch to a back four in the new season still hangs. However, if he doesn't, he'll still need backups for trusted skipper Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva. Both are past 30, and despite the wealth of experience they pack, will be out of contract soon. Andreas Christensen is already deputizing for Silva but that may not be enough to get them over the line in the new season with Tuchel keened on winning the Premier League trophy. Plus, Chelsea have already lost centre-back Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan, so it makes sense that Tuchel wants fresh, young legs at the back and Sevilla's Jules Kounde fits the bill.

Hiring Kounde services won't come cheap, though. The Frenchman will cost Chelsea around £68 million. While that screaming fee could discourage most European clubs due to the financial disaster suffered as a result of Covid-19, it is understood Chelsea have the financial muscle to pull off the deal. Owner Roman Abrahamovich already approved transfer funds north of £200 million for Tuchel after he delivered the Champions League trophy this season.

Kounde is strong in the air and solid on the ground, which makes him not only a perfect fit for the role but also for the Premier League. The Blues failed to swoop in on right-back Hakimi and that cost them. Tuchel has a knack for playing centre-backs and wants the Kounde deal quickly sealed.

However, getting a deal done quickly takes a lot of convincing. As it stands, it remains unclear if Tuchel can pull of a convincing effort that'll inspire the bigwigs at the helm of Chelsea to snatch up the star before other European clubs start sniffing around Sevilla for his services.