Chelsea have recently completed a deal to sign the former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Blues are determined to improve their defensive options further before the transfer window closes, and they have identified a move for the French international Jules Kounde.
The Sevilla defender has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Spanish league, and he has been linked with a move to Barcelona as well. However, the Spanish club are going through a bit of a financial crisis, and they have not been able to agree on a fee with their rivals yet.
Chelsea are looking to take advantage of Barcelona’s situation and hijack the move for the French international defender.
According to a report from Marca, the Blues have now agreed on personal terms with the player and have submitted a bit of around €55 million for the 23-year-old defender. However, Sevilla are holding out for a fee of about €65 million. It will be interesting to see whether Chelsea are prepared to raise their offer and sign the talented young centre-back before the window closes.
The Blues lost players like Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier in the summer. Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso have been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge, and Thomas Tuchel must bring in more than one defender before the window closes.
Chelsea will be hoping to challenge for the Premier League title next season. They need a reliable defensive unit to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool.
Koulibaly is already a top-class acquisition, and bringing in Kounde could completely transform Chelsea’s defensive unit next season.
The Frenchman is already a top-class defender, and he has the potential to develop into a world-class footballer. He certainly can justify the reported €65 million price tag in the long run.
