Chelsea have moved closer to acquiring Valencia centre-back Aymen Abdennour on a year-long loan deal.
The Blues have been chasing defenders all summer in a bid to strengthen their back four and until recently, were facing rejection from most of them. That was until they managed to sign Marcos Alonso on deadline day. Earlier today, it was reported that the Blues had set their sights on Tunisian defender Aymen Abdennour. It now seems as if Chelsea have moved a step closer to getting another defender this summer.
Athletic won 1-0.ANDER GILLENEA/AFP/Getty Images
Goal.com report that the London side are close to reaching an agreement for the Tunisian international. Chelsea will also have the option to buy the 27-year-old at the end of the year on a permanent basis. They had tried to sign him last year, from Monaco, but the former Werder Bremen man opted to move to the French league instead.
Even though he is by no means Antonio Conte’s first choice defender, he would still be able to provide solidity to a Chelsea back line heavily reliant on veteran John Terry. Ivanovic and Cahill are not the defenders of old and Azpilicueta is being played out of position, thereby reducing his efficiency. Originally meant to be Otamendi’s replacement, the arrival of Eliaquim Mangala at Valencia would surely help pave the way for Abdennour to move to Chelsea.