Sevilla have dropped the biggest transfer hint yet that Jules Kounde is set to move on this summer to join Chelsea amid Diego Carlos Aston Villa worry.
The Blues have held a long-term interest in the Les Bleus international who was denied his dream move on transfer deadline day last summer due to sporting director Monchi moving the goalposts in the 11th hour. This forced Marina Granovskaia to play the waiting game- one that has worked a treat with the La Liga side now willing to accept a reduced price deal to help balance their books amid financial worries.
Diego Carlos' £26million move to Villa Park had threatened the possibilities of Kounde securing his ideal move the second time around with most clubs unwilling to usually lose two key players from their backline in the same transfer window. However, the financial situation in La Liga as demonstrated by Barcelona's new financial woes also reflects the current state of the Andalusian side who still need the funds despite the cash injection that Steven Gerrard's side aided them.
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Coupled with this, the 23-year-old's burning desire to prove himself in the Premier League just like Carlos has the Blues in pole position to secure Todd Boehly's first signing of his era. One that would delight manager Thomas Tuchel who will still need another centre-half potentially with the probable exits of Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen forcing Boehly and co into splashing significant funds on defensive recruits this summer.
Alongside the highly likely acquisition of Sevilla's number 23, the likes of Pau Torres, Gleison Bremer and Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe are the prime candidates in Tuchel's eye to compliment Kounde and the current players in his system for 2022/23.
But as already alluded to in previous press conferences, the instability at the top of the club over the last few months has put Chelsea at a 'disadvantage' in comparison to Premier League rivals meaning securing signings this summer will be more difficult than usual.
"We have a huge disadvantage – but it's not decisive yet," Tuchel said after the final day win vs Watford. "There is no need to make excuses, it is just the situation we are in, and we have to be as quick as possible.
"We have clear ideas for the profiles and characteristics of these players. But it's not like we put a name on the list, and then we get the player. We have to convince the player, speak to their clubs, and convince ourselves this is the player [we need]. So there is normally a lot of work, and it will be the same to be competitive next season."
This so-called disadvantage hasn't deterred the new ownership group alongside key directors like Granovskaia from getting to work early before the June 10 window opens as both the Russian and Boehly have been spotted at Stamford Bridge to put some major groundwork into getting a head start in what is expected to be a busy period for Chelsea in the forthcoming weeks.
The names of Romelu Lukaku alongside the aforementioned defenders who are destined for the exit doors will be high up on the agenda to sort out before new purchases are made but securing the 5ft 10 centre-half will also be near the top of the list.
And it seems that Julen Lopetegui's side are already trying to move on into a new era without Kounde and Carlos with it being reported by Spanish source La Colina de Nervion that Strasbourg defender Alexander Dijku will be a player to make up part of the new defensive. pairing who will play 2022/23 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
Get French Football News (GFFN) add that on top of Dijku, Monchi will continue to look at cheaper options in Ligue 1 with former Liverpool and West Ham target Duje Caleta-Car and former Man City man Jason Denayer both of some interest to the La Liga regulars.
Chelsea fans- With Kounde looking ever more closer by the day, how much do you want to see the club fork out for him? The full release clause or lower? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
