Chelsea chiefs haven't dropped plans to sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.

The London Evening Standard says Chelsea thought they were closing in on a deal for Kounde in the final days of the window but saw their hopes end when Sevilla insisted on his release clause of around £68million being met in full.

While the Champions League winners were not prepared to do that this summer, they remain interested and there is still the possibility of resurrecting the deal when the window opens midway through the season.

Extra cover in defence is seen as the next priority for manager Thomas Tuchel after securing the No1 target in a top-class goalscorer.

Tuchel is thinking about his long-term defensive options with 36-year-old Thiago Silva out of contract at the end of the season and Cesar Azpilicueta having now turned 32.