Chelsea have been handed major encouragement in their chase for Jules Kounde with the Sevilla hierarchy suggesting that the defender is aiming to leave.
The Blues have been linked with a move for the Frenchman for some time. It was suggested that they were keen to secure his services last summer but failed to agree a deal with his current employers.
Chelsea's need for a new central defender has intensified over recent weeks with Antonio Rudiger sealing a move to Real Madrid at the end of his contract and Andreas Christensen on the way out of Stamford Bridge having been named on the club’s released list. Now Todd Boehly's takeover has been completed, Chelsea are expected to step up their interest in Kounde.
In a fresh boost for the West Londoners, Sevilla general manager Jose Maria Cruz de Andres has suggested that the defender wants to leave the club. He also admitted it is not a surprise to see Chelsea and their European rivals harbour ambitions of securing his signature.
Speaking with Sport Witness, he said: “Again, the player, I am sure, respects Sevilla FC. He is happy with us. In the case of Kounde, it is not a matter of money. It’s a matter of him wanting to play in a more competitive team than Sevilla FC.
“I am sure he is a player that is attractive for teams like Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and these types of teams. He wants to play in a more competitive team.”
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Of course, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will be successful in attempting to sign Kounde this time around, having been frustrated just a year ago. Jose Maria Cruz has detailed exactly why Sevilla did not accept Chelsea’s offer in a clear hint that a transfer could well be on the cards in the coming months.
He continued: “The case with Jules Kounde is very similar to the case of Diego Carlos [who has joined Aston Villa]. Not in the timing, because we received offers for Jules Kounde in the last two seasons, but always in the summer market.
“We have rejected because we thought that this player can improve his performances. It was better to wait because the market at the time was depressing. We thought that waiting a while would [help us] obtain more money.”
Kounde was once again a star performer for the Spanish side last term. The 23-year-old made 44 appearances for Sevilla in all competitions as they finished fourth in La Liga. He has two years left to run on his contract at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan having been in Spain since a 2019 switch from French outfit Bordeaux.
In the meantime, he has also established himself in the France squad, accumulating 10 appearances for Les Bleus.
