Sevilla defender Jules Kounde has been linked with a move away from the Spanish club this summer, with the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona are reportedly keen on securing his services.
A few days ago, there were reports that Chelsea had agreed on a deal to sign the highly talented Frenchman, but it seems that Barcelona have now managed to hijack the move.
According to a report from the Guardian, Barcelona have now agreed on a €50 million fee with Sevilla for the highly rated centre-back, and the player has already agreed on personal terms with the Spanish giants.
It seems that Chelsea will now have to look at other alternative targets, and the Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana is an option for manager Thomas Tuchel.
However, the report from Guardian adds that Fofana is unlikely to be a cheaper option, and the Leicester City defender could cost up to £85m this summer.
The Foxes are under no pressure to sell the talented young defender, and they are likely to demand at least £70m for his services.
Chelsea have lost the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier on in the summer, and they need to improve their defensive department. The blues have managed to bring in Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli so far, but they will need to sign another centre-back at least.
Missing out on Kounde will be a bitter blow for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel. The 22-year-old Frenchman has all the tools to develop into a world-class defender in the future.
