Chelsea have reportedly agreed personal terms with Jules Kounde but Sevilla are yet to be convinced over a transfer.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, European Champions Chelsea have agreed on personal terms with Sevilla star Jules Kounde.
The Frenchman is one of the best young defenders in Europe and has steadily built himself a solid reputation at Sevilla. The Spaniards paid a club-record fee to land the player from Bordeaux in 2019, and so far, it appears to be money well spent.
Kounde has since made 91 appearances for Sevilla, scoring six goals and assisting two more. He played a key role in the Spanish side’s Europa League win in 2020 and was also named in the competition’s team of the tournament. This has caught the attention of Chelsea, who look determined to land the player this summer.
Thomas Tuchel has transformed the Blues into a defensively astute side that has proven difficult to break down. Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva has rolled back the years at Stamford Bridge but is at 36, nearing the twilight of his career. With Kurt Zouma on his way out, the Blues will need a new defender who can serve them for years to come.
In Kounde, they will be getting just that. The 22-year-old is a solid defender who is adept both in the air and with the ball at his feet. He has shown acute awareness of his surroundings and has the makings of a top-class centre-back.
Kounde for his part, appears to be open to moving to the Bridge. Personal terms have already been agreed over a contract that will run until 2026. The Frenchman will, however, not force Sevilla’s hand in the matter. As things stand, the only hold up is both clubs not agreeing to a deal. Doing so in the coming days could see Kounde end the summer as a Blue.
Alongside Romelu Lukaku, he would be an excellent addition to an already stacked Chelsea outfit. Kounde could very well prove himself the best defender in the Chelsea setup. He outperformed the likes of Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in multiple parameters over the 2020/21 campaign.
The comparison could be considered skewed given the disparity in the minutes the four players received on the pitch. There is, however, no denying the ability he possesses and the potential that could be unlocked.
Kounde outperformed Manchester United new signing Raphael Varane, who arrived at Old Trafford to much excitement earlier this month. The 22-year-old made more interceptions and tackles than Varane and also outperformed his French counterpart at the other end. Chelsea could be landing themselves a special talent should the deal go through.
