While Chelsea has been heavily linked to Erling Haaland and Declan Rice, it appears they also had another player on their radar. The Blues have agreed to terms with Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, who was being chased by Manchester United, per Fabrizio Romano:
Jules Koundé has an agreement ready on personal terms with Chelsea. Contract until 2026 won’t be a problem to be signed – as Koundé is open to accept. 🔵 #CFC
Chelsea and Sevilla are in advanced talks to reach an agreement on payment/deal structure, as exclusively revealed 👇🏻 https://t.co/YADwyHETlZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 27, 2021
The Blues just absolutely swooped in and broke United's hearts. While the deal isn't quite done yet, the two clubs are negotiating a price point. Jules Kounde has emerged as one of the best defenders in La Liga and was also a part of the France Euro 2020 squad. The 22-year-old has a release clause of 80 million euros, but Chelsea isn't willing to pay such a high figure.
If Kounde does indeed arrive, Thomas Tuchel's side will need to lose a defender. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen both have a year remaining on their current deals, while Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma are also competing for playing time.
Although the Red Devils showed interest in Jules Kounde, Chelsea was the first club to actually approach Sevilla seriously. The Spanish club is in financial trouble which means they could be willing to part ways with their center-back at a decreased price.
The Blues next priority will be signing a proven striker. Haaland is likely to stay in Dortmund, while Chelsea has also been linked to Robert Lewandowski.
Jules Kounde will be a fantastic addition to their backline though as he's hungry to win trophies and compete at the very highest level.
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