Chelsea have been dealt a double blow in the club’s pursuits of defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Wesley Fofana.
The west Londoners are searching for centre-back additions before the end of the transfer window, but look set to miss out to Barcelona in the race to sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.
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Thomas Tuchel wants to sign two new centre-backs following the arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, but the Blues’ moves for Kimpembe and Fofana have reached a stumbling block.
The Times are reporting that Kimpembe has decided to turn down interest from England and remain at Paris Saint-Germain, while Leicester have placed a record-breaking price-tag on Fofana.
Kimpembe had appeared an attainable target as PSG chased a deal to sign Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, but the Parisians have so far been unwilling to match the Italian side’s £55m valuation.
Meanwhile, Leicester are reluctant to lose Fofana this summer and will demand a world-record fee for the 21-year-old. Fofana missed the majority of last season after suffering a broken leg in pre-season, but excelled during the previous campaign to be named as the Foxes’ Young Player of the Year.
Leicester signed the Frenchman in a £31.5m deal from Saint-Etienne and are understood to value Fofana – who is contracted until 2027 – in excess of the £80m fee that took Harry Maguire to Manchester United from the King Power Stadium.
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