Jules Kounde will reportedly prioritise joining Barcelona instead of Chelsea this summer, with Sevilla set to demand €90 million to sell him.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Jules Kounde will prefer to join Barcelona instead of Chelsea in the summer transfer window. Sevilla will demand €90 million to part ways with the French international ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Jules Kounde has established himself as one of the best defenders in La Liga since joining Sevilla from Bordeaux in July 2019. The 23-year-old has come leaps and bounds at the club level in the last three years while also becoming a regular fixture in the French national side.
The French international has turned out 133 times for Sevilla while chipping in with nine goals and three assists thus far. But the Andalusian club will likely lose the services of Kounde in the summer transfer window amid escalating interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and Chelsea.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the advancing years of Gerard Pique, with the veteran defender in the twilight of his illustrious career. In addition, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Oscar Mingueza face uncertain futures at Camp Nou, prompting Barcelona to prioritise signing two centre-backs this summer.
Kounde is thus a viable target for Barcelona, with Xavi Hernandez keen on signing the 23-year-old defender. But the Blaugrana will need to fend off stiff competition from Chelsea to secure the services of the Sevilla defender, with the Blues desperately combing the market for centre-backs.
Chelsea will officially lose at least two central defenders when the summer transfer window in July. Antonio Rudiger has reached an agreement to join Real Madrid, while Andreas Christensen is set to complete a Bosman move to Barcelona. Kounde has thus emerged as an option worth considering for Chelsea, with recent reports claiming they were closing in on signing the Frenchman.
But Kounde will prioritise joining Barcelona instead of Chelsea this summer, handing the Blues a blow in his pursuit. But Sevilla’s €90 million price tag could throw a spanner in the works for Barcelona unless they successfully offer a part-exchange deal to land the youngster. Meanwhile, Chelsea will now have an uphill task to secure the services of Kounde this summer, even if they are ready to pay €90 million.
