Chelsea have reportedly decided the cede their pursuit of 22-year-old Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, with Thomas Tuchel ready to move on.
A recent report from Fichajes has offered an interesting update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Jules Kounde. The Sevilla centre-back was on the verge of a move to Stamford Bridge during the late stages of the summer transfer window. But the move fell through at the last moment, causing massive disappointment in the Blues’ camp.
Chelsea maintained their interest in Kounde even after the transfer window slammed shut. But it appears they are now ready to move on from the 22-year-old French international, with head coach Thomas Tuchel left convinced by the quality of his current crop of defenders.
Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah, in particular, have showcased a lot of potential in these early parts of the campaign. Chalobah had already made his Chelsea breakthrough earlier in the season while Sarr made a solid impression with his performance against Brentford last weekend.
The former Nice starlet was indeed immense as he helped the Blues retain a valuable clean sheet. Although the Frenchman did not start in the recent Premier League game against Norwich City, Tuchel is convinced he has what it takes to help form the core of the Chelsea defence alongside Chalobah once the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger move on.
Azpilicueta and Silva are already in the final phase of their respective careers while Rudiger’s contract expires at the end of the season. Rudiger, meanwhile, is reportedly frustrated with Chelsea’s unwillingness to meet his demands over a new deal. The German international is even in talks with league rivals Manchester City and is all set to leave the club at the end of the season.
The idea behind Chelsea’s pursuit of Kounde was the uncertainty surrounding the future of Rudiger and that the 22-year-old French international could be a long-term replacement for the German.
The Blues had also been linked with a move for Juventus ace Matthijs de Ligt. But it appears Chelsea are willing to hand out opportunities to both Chalobah and Sarr to try and prove themselves at Stamford Bridge in the coming future.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will truly abandon their search for a new defender. But a lot could depend on how Chalobah and Sarr progress during the remainder of the campaign as well as the club’s success in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League this season, with the pursuit of Kounde ended for now.