Chelsea have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit for long term defensive target Jules Kounde.
The Blues reportedly failed in their attempts to acquire the talented French international last summer after deciding not to trigger his £68million release clause.
But reports in Spain have now suggested that the side from west London could now land Kounde for a desirable price.
According to Spanish publication AS, Kounde looks likely to be available on the market for a fee that is significantly lower than his release clause because of the financial issues Sevilla are currently facing.
Whilst the Spanish club are reluctant to sell their star asset in the January market mid-way through the season, they will however be willing to negotiate a deal in the region of £40million in the summer window.
The report goes on to state that the 23-year-old wasn't happy with Sevilla's decision to reject the offer Chelsea previously presented, so it is expected that should the two clubs agree on a fee in the near future, Kounde would be more than open to making the switch from Spain to England.
Chelsea's current situation with regards to their defensive options is a significant worry. Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta are all out of contract in the summer and currently don't look likely to extend their current deals.
Given that the club knew they would be short at the back come the end of the 2021/22 season, questions have to be asked as to why they allowed Marc Guehi to sign for Crystal Palace and likewise Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan, who have both delivered excellent performances for their new clubs.
It's therefore clearly apparent that they will be in the market to reinforce their backline, so interest in Kounde is expected to intensify once the summer transfer window opens.
