Tuchel confirms Chelsea's attempt to sign Jules Kounde this summer

"Marina [Granovskaia] was in charge and she is the best person who can be in charge," Thomas Tuchel told a press conference about Chelsea's attempts to sign Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.

"We were in contact and Petr Cech was in contact. Us three, we knew about all the situations.

"We knew things can happen, things can happen late, and we were also very aware of the situation that, maybe, nothing happens at all.

"I assured everybody that I’m also happy if we cannot bring a player in. We will find the solution within the squad. We will push players within the squad.

"But it was clear we tried for Kounde and Saul and it was very, very late, but it was a very, very smooth transfer window because I had full concentration on training and on my team."

According to the latest reports, Chelsea were left bemused when Sevilla raised their demands in the final days of the transfer window.

They would reportedly be willing to try to sign Kounde in January but only if the Spanish side would be willing to negotiate for a reduced fee which is not too likely in the middle of the season.