Price-tag of Chelsea target Jules Kounde to be influenced by Barcelona's interest.
According to Sport (h/t Daily Star), Barcelona are set to make a bid for long-time Chelsea target Jules Kounde and threaten to ruin any summer transfer window plans that the Blues had in mind for the highly-rated Sevilla defender.
Thomas Tuchel is facing a crunch situation in defence at the end of the season with senior defenders Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpiliceuta, and Andreas Christensen all out of contract in the summer. As of yet, none of them have shown any inclination to pen an extension.
With this in mind, Chelsea had identified the Sevilla star as a summer recruit to cover for their departures. However, it is now claimed that Barcelona are keen to snap up the Frenchman as a replacement for veteran Gerard Pique, and could rival the London club for Kounde’s services at the end of the season.
This comes after the Stamford Bridge side tried luring Kounde to London last summer only for the move to collapse on deadline day following a disagreement over the fee. Barcelona’s plan may jeopardise any approaches from Chelsea for the Frenchman at the end of the term.
With the club facing a worst-case scenario where all three key defenders leave Chelsea at the end of the current campaign, signing defensive options becomes a priority rather than a necessity. After Tuchel nearly got his hands on Kounde the previous year, it is expected that the German will try his luck again for the Sevilla star in the summer.
Barcelona meanwhile, have eyed up the Frenchman as a potential replacement for Pique, who is ageing and could be on his way out in a few years. Manager Xavi Hernandez is said to be an admirer of Kounde, who has already made a name for himself in La Liga with his performances in Sevilla over the past few years.
Barcelona’s sudden interest in Kounde could send panic waves in London, with the Catalan club ready to make moves to aid Xavi’s rebuild. The Barca legend has an eye on returning the club to where it belongs, and the decision-makers appear to be ready to back him in the transfer market.
The Spanish giants are currently facing a financial crunch, which would make their recruitment process difficult in the summer. Chelsea meanwhile, have the backing of mega-rich Roman Abramovich who has shown himself to be open with the chequebook while signing top players.
In this instance, Chelsea might just have the advantage in snapping up Kounde over Barca, especially since the London side came close to pulling off a move for the Frenchman last year. It is said that they are sure to go back in for the Sevilla star this time around as well and only time will tell if their efforts turn out fruitful.
Kounde meanwhile, has only grown in leaps and bounds during his time in La Liga, which has only made him an ideal candidate for top clubs looking to recruit him at the end of the season. Hopefully, we see the 23-year-old in a Chelsea jersey in the coming months ahead of the new season.
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