Valencia have already lost German center-back Shkodran Mustafi to Arsenal, but could now lose another central defender to yet another London club.
The Blues are growing increasingly desperate to sign a top quality center-back before the transfer window shuts. Their long drawn out pursuit of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly failed to lead anywhere, and they were rejected by a Serie A club yet again as AC Milan turned down their €35 million bid for young Italian center-half Alessio Romagnoli.
This means that Chelsea are still looking for a centre-back on transfer deadline day. They have now turned their attention to La Liga and Valencia, who have already lost a star defender to a Premier League club in Shkodran Mustafi.
Chelsea have now approached Valencia over a loan deal for 27-year-old Tunisian defender Aymen Abdennour, according to Matt Law from The Telegraph.
Chelsea in talks over Abdennour loan (ignore all the ‘gossip’ under it) #cfc https://t.co/ECzRK9z9as
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 31, 2016
The club were reportedly interested in Abdennour last summer as well, but the Tunisian instead joined Los Che from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
The 27-year-old may not have been the defensive signing that Antonio Conte and Chelsea were hoping for, but he is a signing that would provide some relief. The Blues back line is still heavily dependent on 35-year-old John Terry, with Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma the other two experienced centre-backs.
Abdennour had a good spell at Monaco in 2014-15 before joining Los Che last summer. He also impressed in their Champions League run, where the Ligue 1 club knocked out Chelsea’s bitter rivals Arsenal in the round of 16. He made 22 La Liga appearances for Valencia last season, but the impending arrival of Manchester City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala has opened the door for a possible move to the Premier League.
This could well be the only central defensive signing that Chelsea pull off on deadline day, although there have reportedly been developments in their pursuit of Fiorentina full-back Marcos Alonso. Signing the Spaniard would allow Cesar Azpilicueta to move to right-back and would give Antonio Conte the option of using Branislav Ivanovic centrally.
