Chelsea have reportedly initiated contact with PSG for the services of Presnel Kimpembe, who is allowed to leave Parc des Princes.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have kick-started their pursuit of Presnel Kimpembe. The PSG centre-back is facing an uncertain future at the club, with the newly-appointed sporting director Luis Campos open to offloading him in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Chelsea have contacted PSG over the possibility of signing Kimpembe. The Parisian juggernaut are currently looking for a fee of around €65 million, but the Blues are expected to submit their initial attempt worth around €45-50 million. The talks are set to progress in the coming days, as the Premier League giants look for their second big defensive coup.
Chelsea have already roped in Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli this week. The Senegalese international is set to replace the departed Antonio Rudiger, but with Andreas Christensen also leaving, the Blues are in desperate need of more defensive reinforcements.
That is where Presnel Kimpembe comes into the fray. The PSG starlet is regarded as one of the best defenders in French football, having enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the past few years. His performances at the back have played a key role in helping PSG retain their dominance in French football.
Known for his aggression and no-nonsense defensive mentality, Kimpembe is a sturdy centre-back who is more than capable of offering defensive support to someone like Koulibaly at Chelsea. Having featured in 220 competitive matches for PSG, the Frenchman also offers significant experience at the highest level of football.
At the age of 26, Kimpembe is currently at the peak of his powers as well and may even have room to further improve himself as a defensive leader. The PSG defender could thus become an excellent investment for Chelsea, who are also targeting talented centre-backs across Europe, including Sevilla starlet Jules Kounde.
However, the Blues are set to face fierce competition from Barcelona in the race to sign Kounde, whereas Matthijs de Ligt could prove to be way too expensive. As such, Chelsea could be well placed to make an attempt to sign Kimpembe, who has the experience and the skill to become the ideal defensive partner for Koulibaly next season.
