Sevilla have reportedly asked Chelsea to include Marcos Alonso and Malang Sarr in the deal to sign Jules Kounde this summer.
A recent report from El Gol Digital has offered an update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Jules Kounde. It is well known that the recently crowned European champions were unwilling to meet the cash demands for the Sevilla defender and were instead hoping to use Kurt Zouma as a sweetener in a player plus cash deal.
However, Zouma’s refusal to play in Seville has forced both the clubs to look for alternatives. Sevilla’s sporting director Monchi has asked for two defenders in his stead, in the form of Malang Sarr and Marcos Alonso.
It is believed that Sarr was a target for the Spaniard last summer before he joined Chelsea on a free transfer. He was immediately shipped out to FC Porto on a season-long loan deal, though, a move that turned out to be quite detrimental to the player’s progress.
Indeed, the Frenchman had issues settling in at the club, even being forced to play for the reserve side. He ended the 2020/21 campaign with just eight league appearances, as FC Porto missed out on the Primeira Liga title. Sevilla now appear to be ready to offer him a platform to shine at the highest stage of football, perhaps even as a direct replacement for the talented Kounde.
Another option for Los Nervionenses is Alonso, who has been out of favour at Chelsea for a long time. He has been subjected to a move away from Stamford Bridge throughout this summer, with Barcelona among the clubs interested in his services.
While a move to Catalonia is no longer possible, Alonso may still return to his homeland by joining Sevilla. Julen Lopetegui’s men lack depth in the left-back position, with the attack-minded Marcos Acuna being the only viable option. Alonso, in that regard, should be a smart investment.
On the other hand, Chelsea are unlikely to be fazed by the departure of any of these two players. In fact, their move to Sevilla will help Thomas Tuchel free up some valuable space in the defensive unit. Moreover, it can lead to a better valuation for Zouma, courted by West Ham, among many other English clubs this summer.
