Chelsea will reportedly increase their efforts to sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde throughout this week.

With the Spanish side insisting that any interested club must pay close to the France international's £68m release clause, the Blues must reduce their outgoings before making a fresh bid for his signature.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea hope to part ways with Davide Zappacosta, Ike Ugbo, Kurt Zouma and Malang Sarr as soon as possible.

While the sale of Zouma may take longer to arrange, Zappacosta and Ugbo are seemingly in line to link up with Atalanta BC and Genk respectively.

The report claims that the exits of those two players will eventually generate as much as £13m, with Sarr's wages likely being covered when he heads back out on loan.

Bologna are said to be the frontrunners for the defender's signature after an unsuccessful period with Porto during the last campaign. body check tags ::