Jules Kounde has been Chelsea’s number transfer target since last season. Chelsea almost signed the French international last season but failed to meet Seville’s asking price of £80 million.
Chelsea is in again for the Seville defender this summer. The blues need defenders following the departure of Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid and Andreas Christensen to Barcelona. Chelsea had already signed Kalidou Kolibaly for £ 40 million from Napoli.
The Blues are also keen on adding Jules Kounde to Chelsea’s defense next season. Currently, Chelsea has three center-backs in Thiago Silva will be 38 years old in September, Trevoh Chalobah (23), and new signing Kalidou Koulibaly (31). The signing of Jules Kounde who is 23 years old is a good transfer business looking at his age and his ability to play in different positions.
However, Chelsea faces huge competition from Barcelona. There are reports this week that Seville had accepted Chelsea’s £55 million bid for the French international.
What did Thomas Tuchel say when asked about Jules Kounde?
Speaking at a press conference ahead of their Florida Cup finals with Arsenal, Thomas Tuchel said when asked about an update on Jules Kounde: “There is no news. If there will be news about Jules Kounde I will tell you. I will not start commenting on other players.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he trying hard to block Cesar Azpilicueta from joining Barcelona.
Barcelona is pushing to sign the Chelsea Skipper this summer. Cesar Azpilicueta has less than a year left on his Chelsea contract and Barcelona could get the Spanish international at a cheap price but Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he is fighting hard to keep him.
The Chelsea manager added: “It’s a tough question because I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants.
“At some point, it is about what we want. I just made the comparison about how much we fought for [Kalidou] Koulibaly, who is a national team player and roughly the same age. He is a hugely important player for Napoli but we have a Spanish international who is the captain at Chelsea.
“I see him maybe at the same level but Barcelona doesn’t see him on that level. So I am not sure if I want to give him what he wants as he is a huge player.
“We don’t think so much about other clubs. The focus is on us and what we need. I said that to him and I say it to you that I understand on a personal and a career level. But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants. I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what’s best for Chelsea.
“He doesn’t like it but he understands. It is tough for him because the other club is permanently on him.
“On September 1 when things calm down, then he can play on his highest level.”
Chelsea will face Arsenal on Saturday for the Florida Cup finals. Cesar Azpilicueta missed out on Chelsea’s defeat to Charlotte Fc due to a hamstring injury.
