Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe, who is also a transfer target for Chelsea.
According to a report from El Nacional, Real Madrid are considering making a summer swoop for Paris Saint-Germain and France centre-back Presnel Kimpembe, who is also being pursued by Premier League giants Chelsea.
Kimpembe has spent his entire career at PSG, having first joined the club’s youth setup in 2005. The 26-year-old made his senior debut in 2014 as a 19-year-old and has established himself as a mainstay at the back for the French capital outfit, racking up over 200 appearances.
Kimpembe is also a regular for the French national team and was a key part of the side that lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The centre-back is contracted with Les Parisiens till the summer of 2024 and is believed to pocket a handsome €9 million-a-year wage.
However, with talks over a renewal set to begin, he is pushing for a bigger salary and would consider leaving Parc des Princes if his demands are not met. This development has alerted two of the biggest clubs in Europe in Chelsea and Real Madrid, who are now considering making a play to sign Kimpembe in the summer.
Chelsea are likely staring at an overhaul of sorts in their defensive department this summer as Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, and Antonio Rudiger are all out of contract at the end of the season. The defensive trio has been linked with several top clubs across Europe, with PSG themselves in the hunt for the signing of Rudiger.
While the Blues might not end up losing all three defenders, the departure of even one or two would warrant the addition of a top-quality defender, leading to their interest in Kimpembe. The Frenchman himself is believed to be open to the prospect of moving to Stamford Bridge to reunite with former manager Thomas Tuchel.
As for Real Madrid, they are also seeking defensive reinforcements before the next season kicks off as there is not much quality in their centre-back department currently beyond the first-choice pairing of Eder Militao and David Alaba. Last year, the Merengues let go of Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos but signed only one player as a replacement in Alaba.
With Nacho Fernandez not getting any younger and Jesus Vallejo completely out of favour under manager Carlo Ancelotti, it makes sense for the Merengues to be on the lookout for a new defensive addition. They had been heavily linked with a move for Rudiger, but recent reports have claimed that Real Madrid have ended their pursuit of the Chelsea ace and may now have turned their focus towards Kimpembe.
As iterated earlier, Kimpembe would be open to an exit from PSG if his wage demands are not met, although the Parisian giants are not in any hurry to hand him a new contract at the moment. So, it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old ends up leaving Parc des Princes come summer.
