Chelsea are reportedly set to submit their final offer for 22-year-old French defender Jules Kounde, with Sevilla not budging from their position.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are preparing to launch the offensive for Jules Kounde one final time ahead of the transfer deadline on Tuesday. The Blues will make their final offer for the 22-year-old, although La Liga giants Sevilla are not budging from their position.
Jules Kounde joined Sevilla from Bordeaux in the summer of 2019 and has since gone on to establish himself as one of the best defenders on show in La Liga. Now a pivotal figure at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, the Frenchman has amassed 91 appearances for the Andalusian outfit while chipping in with six goals and two assists in the process.
His scintillating progress has invariably been noticed by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Manchester clubs all being linked with him at one point or another. As things stand, though, Chelsea have been the only marquee outfit hot on the trails of the 22-year-old defender in recent times.
The interest from Chelsea is not too surprising, considering they have already offloaded Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma this summer, leaving Thomas Tuchel with Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah as the central defensive options at his disposal.
With Silva approaching the end of the line in his storied career, it is imperative that Chelsea lay down a succession plan for the veteran Brazilian, one which could include Kounde. And for some time, it was believed that the European champions were inching closer to signing the 22-year-old.
However, in the last few days, Sevilla have increased their valuation of Kounde and are reportedly adamant that any suitor who wishes to sign him triggers his release clause. As a result, it was suggested that Chelsea were going to call off their pursuit of the French defender only to reignite it once again.
As per Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are now set to make one final push to sign Kounde, although Sevilla remain “strong in their position”. What now remains to be seen is if Chelsea can tempt the La Liga giants to cash in on their prized possession or if they finally give up in their chase for a central defender.
