October 26, (THEWILL) – Brazilian player Marcos Aoas Correa, Marquinhos, has stated that Chelsea tried to sign him last summer but were turned down.
The Blues were on the lookout for a new centre-back, with Sevilla’s Jules Kounde top of their list. However, reports surfaced that Chelsea was considering a €100 million bid for Marquinhos, who shone in France under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea’s proposal was said to have been quickly rejected by PSG, and now Marquinhos has corroborated the story.
Marquinhos said: “It wasn’t even an offer. In fact, the club blocked talks straight away. It shows the faith they have in me.
“It is an honour for a club like PSG to put such faith in me. The fact that others are interested in me means I am doing well. It gives me the motivation to go on, boost my training sessions and play even better. Paris and PSG are the only things on my mind.”
Marquinhos shone both in midfield and defence during Tuchel’s time at PSG, so it is easy to see why Chelsea reached out to the Parisians about a possible transfer.
In the end, Chelsea concentrated on Kounde, believing they had struck a deal worth around £45 million, only for Sevilla to reject them late on, citing the Frenchman’s £68 million release clause.
Sevilla president Jose Castro issued a warning to Kounde’s admirers, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, saying that the only way for him to leave the club in the foreseeable future is to activate his release clause.
Chelsea eventually declined and instead relied on academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah, who has since proceeded to shine in the senior squad. The 22-year-old is expected to sign a new long-term contract as his current contract is set to expire at the end of the current season.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
