Chelsea have beaten off competition from Barcelona to win the race for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, according to Matt Law.
The French international is set to become the club’s third signing of the summer, following Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly to the English capital. Kounde comes highly rated, hailed as “World-Class” and also with fellow Sevilla team-mate Diego Carlos praising his “great qualities”.
Kounde set to become Chelsea's third summer signing in a deal that could give Azpilicueta the green light to go #cfc https://t.co/p0ppITuXHc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) July 22, 2022
Chelsea Beat Barcelona to Jules Kounde
The Blues’ Long-standing Interest
Kounde has been on Chelsea’s radar for quite some time now.
After the sales of Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori last summer, the Blues were on the hunt for a new centre-half to accompany the likes of Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger. The French international looked as though he would be that man for Chelsea, only for a deal to fall through due to a difference in valuation of the player between the two clubs.
However, the Blues’ interest has remained. After losing Rudiger and Andreas Christiansen at the end of their contracts this summer, the London club have been looking to bolster their options at the back. With new owner Todd Boehly willing to spend big in his first transfer window at the helm, Chelsea have already bought in world-class duo Sterling and Koulibaly to add quality at both ends of the pitch.
The signing of Kounde will all but end concerns about Chelsea’s lack of numbers in defence as they look to add some more silverware to their trophy cabinet next year.
Read More: AC Milan Are Inquiring About Young Tottenham Hotspur Midfielder
Competition From Barcelona
Like Chelsea, Barcelona have made an explosive start to this summer’s transfer window. The Catalan giants have signed the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie and Raphinha as they look to improve upon a disappointing campaign where they finished 13 points behind La Liga winners Real Madrid.
However, it now looks as though the opportunity to sign Kounde is gone after the club failed to place a bid equivalent to that of Chelsea’s. The signing of the Frenchman could mean that the Blues’ club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is allowed to leave after a decade in London. The Spanish defender has been a target for Barcelona this window and after losing out on Kounde, they could turn their attention to the Chelsea man.
The signing of the French defender continues to show Chelsea’s ambition in the transfer market as they look to push even further towards the top of the Premier League table next season.
Barcelona feel Chelsea’s proposal for Jules Koundé is “too important” to be matched. £55m to Sevilla with very good payment terms, almost €9/10m salary on a five year contract. 🚨🔵 #CFC
Chelsea contracts, ready in Sevilla’s hands since yesterday. Deal at final stages. pic.twitter.com/jkqkOycJJI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 22, 2022
