Chelsea have held an interest in Sevilla defender Jules Kounde for a while now. After completing their £97.5 million move for Romelu Lukaku last week. Chelsea are now looking to bring in Kounde before the end of the window.
Before bringing the French defender Chelsea will have to cut down their defensive options. The first player on the list is Kurt Zouma. West Ham hold an interest in Zouma. However, West Ham are now exploring alternative options to Zouma as they are refusing to meet the France international’s wage demand. Reports claim that Chelsea are willing to let him go if they receive a £20m offer. Chelsea are very keen to bring Jules Kounde to Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham has completed his move to AS Roma for a fee of £34m. Michy Batshuayi is set to join Besiktas on another loan deal. The Kounde deal looks complicated now because Chalobah has emerged with a very strong claim on a first-team spot.
Can Chelsea sign Jules Kounde?
Sevilla had been standing firm on their £70-80m asking price for Koundé, and without wanting any player in part-exchange to help lower that fee. After Sevilla’s game against Rayo Vallecano Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui said “I don’t have the feeling that this is his last game.”
According to a report from 90Min earlier in the week, claims that if Chelsea pay all of the fee upfront, then it would cause the club some issues with Financial Fair Play rules. With two weeks to go in the transfer window, Chelsea will be planning to get the deal done. But the deal is complicated because of the Financial Fair Play. Chelsea will move for Jules Kounde only when they find a way to offload their defensive options. The player most likely to leave is Kurt Zouma.
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