Chelsea’s push for Jules Kounde and Saul Niguez hangs in the balance on deadline day

Chelsea are prepared to take their deadline-day business down to the wire.

Moves for Jules Kounde and Saul Niguez were left hanging in the balance this morning as Thomas Tuchel remains determined to make late additions to his Champions League-winning squad.

Kounde wants to complete a move to Stamford Bridge, but his hopes of a switch have stalled over Sevilla’s refusal to budge from their £60million asking price.

Tuchel has tracked the France centre-back all summer, with Kurt Zouma’s move to West Ham over the weekend expected to pave the way for his arrival.

But as of this morning Sevilla were adamant the 22-year-old would not be allowed to leave unless their valuation was met in full.

Chelsea are believed to be prepared to pay around £43m, which has threatened to see the deal collapse.

Tuchel is also eager to bring in Saul from Atletico Madrid on an initial season-long loan – but that, too, is in danger of falling through with the Spanish champions trying to find a replacement before giving the green light to a move.

Tuchel still believes he needs additions to strengthen his bid for the Premier League title, despite signing Romelu Lukaku for a club record £97.5m.

A top-quality centre-forward was always his priority – but defence was long-seen as an area in need of address.

While the German has been hugely impressed with Andreas Christensen and Toni Rudiger, who have both been offered new contracts, he wants more depth, with Thiago Silva in the final year of his contract.

Kounde has been scouted by Chelsea for some time and is seen as an ideal fit.

Saul is seen as a top-class addition who will have an immediate impact in an area where Chelsea already have a depth of experience with N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic.

Despite allowing Billy Gilmour to join Norwich on loan because of a lack of guaranteed playing time, Tuchel wants more options in central midfield.

Struggles to get deals over the line has cast doubt over the futures of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who were both expected to go out on loan.

Hudson-Odoi was being tracked by Borussia Dortmund, but now looks likely to stay.

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