Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been so confident of signing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde that he's discussed the Frenchman with his players.

Kounde has been a target for the Blues for two years and it seemed a formality they would get their man with how talks were progressing between the two clubs.

It's claimed that there was an agreement in principle, but in a drastic turn of events, the proposed deal is now off, reports The Athletic.

Sevilla are now demanding £13million more than their original asking price which has subsequently led Chelsea to walk away from the move. The Blues will only go back in for Kounde if the Spanish club lower their demands.

The Blues will address the situation with Kounde in the January window if nothing changes, but the Blues boss has been left with egg on his face as he tempted fate by talking to his players about the centre-half's arrival over the summer.