Chelsea are still in the market for Joules Kounde of Sevilla. The centre-back is still a priority target for the Blues, and they are hoping to get their man in the summer of 2022.
This past summer, there were long negotiations between the two clubs for the player. Chelsea offered Sevilla a player plus cash deal involving Kurt Zouma, but the move ultimately collapsed on deadline day. As a result, the Frenchman ended up staying in La Liga.
June 2022 deal likely for Jules Kounde
Jules Kounde has an €80 million release clause in his contract, but it is unlikely that the Blues will pay that much for the player. He is appreciated by Thomas Tuchel, and the board, but a price tag that high might be the deal breaker for them.
Sevilla are quite strict about their transfer policy, which prevented Diego Carlos from joining Newcastle United in the January window. So, if Chelsea want to sign the player, they will need to find an agreement with the Spanish club for the transfer fee.
With Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger all on the verge of leaving the club in the summer, Thomas Tuchel’s team will need new central defenders to make up the numbers and add more quality to the team.
The FIFA Club World Cup winners have a shortlist that has three to four more names alongside Jules Kounde. But, his arrival would set the team up for the coming years in a very big way.