Chelsea desperate for defenders – and top players aren’t on the market for long

Chelsea need defenders, and fast.

The Blues will lose Andreas Christensen at the end of this month, and Antonio Rudiger had already gone. Cesar Azpilicueta could yet go, and Thiago Silva is closing in on 40.

If we assume Jules Kounde is a done deal – and most people consider it to be just a matter of agreeing the last couple of digits in the transfer fee to be paid to Sevilla – that still leaves us at least one defender short.

No wonder the Blues are being linked with every notable player at the back in Europe who is considered vaguely available.

If the Kounde deal is wrapped up in the next few weeks, as we would hope it is, that at least creates some breathing room for Chelsea to make sure their next target is as well scouted as the France international.

There are plenty of good players out there – but as always, speed is vital.