Jules Kounde has reportedly said his goodbyes to Sevilla as Chelsea close in on signing the defender.
According to Eldes Marque, the Frenchman was leaving the club’s training session, with him expected to complete his transfer soon.
The Blues have held a long-term interest in signing the 23-year-old, with them almost securing him last summer.
They maintained their interest as the club entered the Todd Boehly era, however it appeared they cooled their interest in Kounde in an attempt to add other defensive options.
However, with Matthijs de Ligt choosing Bayern Munich over the Blues, they returned to the France international to strengthen their backline.
Despite a brief return to Sevilla training, Eldes Marque have claimed that he was heard saying goodbye to fans of the club he supports, after they wished him well following rumours he would be leaving.
Kounde says goodbye to Sevilla fans
Chelsea are not the only side interested in a move for Kounde, with Barcelona intrigued to add him to their already glamorous transfer window.
It was claimed that the Catalan side have felt pressure from the Blues, with them stepping up their attempts to sign the Frenchman this week making things difficult for a rival club to compete with them.
The signing is a big one for the new owners, with them keen to not get a reputation for losing out on big deals in the final moments.
The club have already lost out on Raphinha to Xavi’s side, despite agreeing a fee with Leeds United for the Brazilian.
Their signing of Lewandowski, who only wanted Barcelona despite interest from Chelsea, is another sign of their current place in the market, and adding Kounde to the list would leave a bad taste in the mouth from this window.
Alongside Kounde, the Blues are looking to add Kimpembe to their ranks, with his comfort to play on the left making him a suitable replacement for Antonio Rudiger.