Jules Kounde has stated the failed summer move to Chelsea seemingly had an effect on him as he remained at Sevilla.
Chelsea made headlines after they signed Romelu Lukaku in a deal close to £100 million from Inter Milan. They desperately needed a reliable striker and got their man in the Belgian international, although they did chase Erling Haaland for most parts in the summer.
Thomas Tuchel made some interesting transfers decisions in that period, letting Kurt Zouma leave for West Ham United in a £30 million deal. However, allowing the Frenchman to depart stemmed from his confidence in signing Jules Kounde from Sevilla.
The defender was lately linked with a January move to Barcelona, as new manager, Xavi, wants to bring the Sevilla star to strengthen his defence. However, Chelsea are understandably still in the race after a move failed to materialise in the summer. The reason was that the Spanish club increased their asking price for the defender despite having a verbal agreement with the Premier League side earlier.
Sevilla manager confirmed how Chelsea failed to offer the right fee for the defender some time ago, which led to the collapse. 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.”
Kounde, himself has opened up on the failed move as his comments appeared on Goal.com via Telefoot. The Frenchman suggested he was looking forward to playing for Chelsea, and the failure to move clubs seemingly had an effect on him.
Kounde said, “Did my failed transfer to Chelsea this summer affect me? Yes, a little bit, but now it’s digested.”
As things stand, Chelsea looks well-stocked in defence, despite the departure of Zouma. The emergence of Trevoh Chalobah this season has offset the absence of the West Ham defender and the failure to land Kounde.
Tuchel might ask the club to make another bid for Kounde, considering the future of Antonio Rudiger remains uncertain with his contract expiring at the end of the season. In all, Kounde’s future will still become a subject of speculation when the January window opens, as many clubs, including Chelsea, will be chasing him.
