Sevilla FC defender Jules Kounde is in advanced talks with FC Barcelona to join Chelsea.
Kounde has been one of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s main targets in recent months.
Chelsea agreed with the Frenchman last summer but the deal fell through as Sevilla went tough on the price.
The Blues were close to making a second attempt to sign the 23-year-old centre-back in the summer, having lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
However, according to Catalunya Radio, Barcelona have moved ahead of Chelsea and negotiations are at an advanced stage, with the Catalan club having reached an agreement in principle with Sevilla.
The report adds that the LaLiga giants will pay around €60m (£51.6m) and have agreed to include a player in the swap, although they are yet to decide which player to swap. .
Sergino Dest is an option but Barcelona were hoping to use him as part of a deal with Bayern Munich for their striker Robert Lewandowski, while Trincao and Clement Lenglet are also considered.
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