Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Jules Kounde but have to negotiate with Sevilla over the transfer.
Telefoot journalist Julien Maynard has offered an update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Jules Kounde. It appears they have reached an agreement-in-principle to sign the talented defender, who is prepared to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
However, the newly-crowned European champions may face difficulties finding an agreement with Sevilla over the valuation of the transfer. The Blues currently believe that the Spanish giants are demanding too much, unwilling to match their asking price of around €80 million.
The club has tried to reduce the price by offering Kurt Zouma in a player plus cash deal. But the centre-back is not too keen on joining Sevilla and is apparently being targeted by Premier League rivals West Ham United this summer.
Reports suggest that Sevilla are now asking Chelsea to include two players in Marcos Alonso and Malang Sarr. Nothing has progressed on that front, though, and one could wonder that the Blues might be reluctant to let Sarr leave, having only signed him last summer on a free transfer.
Nevertheless, Kounde’s willingness to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer is a positive sign for Chelsea, as they can still realistically crop up funds to sanction the deal.
Despite selling Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori and Victor Moses, the Blues have a host of unwanted players who are ready to be shown the exit door by Thomas Tuchel this summer. Ross Barkley, for one, is reportedly a target for Newcastle United this summer, as a potential alternative for top target Joe Willock.
The likes of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi can fetch a considerable amount of sum on the market as well, making it easier for Chelsea to fund a move for Kounde.
However, it is fair to point out that the Londoners may struggle to get rid of all of them considering the current financial climate. It essentially entails that they may even need to offload one of their bigger stars, with Hakim Ziyech, in particular, emerging as a key contender amid Atletico Madrid interest.
Moreover, the club is actively trying to strike a deal with Inter Milan for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian is valued at a whopping €120 million, which could force the Blues to further thin out their squad or potentially cede the pursuit of Kounde altogether.