Julen Lopetegui has suggested that Chelsea did not offer enough for Jules Kounde and that his stay at Sevilla was the right thing to do.
In an interview with Spanish outlet Diario de Sevilla, Julen Lopetegui has seemed to have suggested that Chelsea did not offer enough money to swoop Kules Kounde away from Sevilla. Los Nervionenses’ manager has also added that keeping the Frenchman at the Ramons Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was the right thing to do.
Jules Kounde was a part of one of the most captivating transfer sagas in the final month of the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old, who has been linked with practically every big club in Europe since making a major impact at Sevilla, was on Chelsea’s radar over a big-money move.
In fact, Chelsea essentially leapt into action in pursuit of Kounde after Manchester United secured the services of Raphael Varane from Real Madrid. The French international was also linked with Real Madrid this summer, only for Chelsea to emerge as the top candidates for his signature.
In the end, though, the Blues had no option but to cede the pursuit of the youngster for the summer transfer window, with reports claiming that Sevilla had increased their price tag. Now, though, Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has possibly hinted that Chelsea did not offer enough for Kounde.
Lopetegui said, “Kounde in the end has stayed because the club has decided that it was the right thing to do based on the evaluation of the offers they may have had. For me, as a coach, that Jules stays is positive.”
“With the evolution he has had in these two years, it is positive, without any doubt. We trust that he’ll continue to grow with us and, above all, perform, which is the most important thing.”
Only time will tell whether Chelsea’s inability to land Kounde comes back to haunt them. The Blues would hope that the advent of Trevoh Chalobah can help them cover for the absence of the French international, while the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta can be counted on for big performances anyway.
