Chelsea ‘failed in £72m Marquinhos transfer bid in summer as PSG refused to entertain offers for centre-back’

CHELSEA had a £72million bid for Marquinhos rejected in the summer, according to reports.

Boss Thomas Tuchel had been after a centre-back all summer, having also chased Sevilla ace Jules Kounde.

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The Blues flogged Kurt Zouma to West Ham in anticipation of a new addition.

But none came, as the West Londoners failed in their bids.

According to L'Equipe, the Blues offered as much as £72m for Marquinhos.

But Paris Saint-Germain refused to even entertain offers for their captain and leader.

The move would have reunited the Brazilian with old boss Tuchel and former centre-back partner Thiago Silva.

Marquinhos, 27, didn't agitate for a move - and has since gotten on with things in Paris.

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But he did hint at Chelsea's interest earlier this season.

He told : "No! 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."

Further reports from RMC Sport claim that Marquinhos had no interest whatsoever in joining Chelsea.

With no new addition forthcoming, Tuchel promoted academy starlet Trevoh Chalobah to the first-team set-up - with the youngster having since acquitted himself extremely well.

Chelsea are set to be back in the market come the summer regardless, as they brace themselves for a number of exits.

Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta are all set to be out of contract at the end of the season.

Rudiger has drawn plenty of interest, with Real Madrid seemingly the most likely suitor.

While Barcelona are monitoring developments surrounding Azpilicueta.

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