Chelsea transfer target Jules Kounde received a controversial red card in Sevilla's 1-1 draw with Espanyol on Sunday.
The France international was adjudged to have lashed out at opposition forward Javi Puado by referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes.
With Puado attempting to prevent Kounde from carrying the ball forward, the 23-year old's reaction was ruled to have gone too far and VAR agreed with the on-field referee's decision to send the player off.
But it isn't the first time that Kounde has seen red this season.
In Sevilla's stalemate against Barcelona back in December at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the former Bourdeaux defender was involved in a confrontation with Jordi Alba, which saw Kounde throw the ball into the Spanish full-back's face in retaliation to being pushed whilst trying to receive the ball that had gone out of play.
He was also sent off during international duty, in Les Bleus' World Cup qualifying game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kounde made a rash challenge on former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac in the 51st minute, with VAR overturning the yellow card initially given and quickly deciding that a red was warranted instead.
The Blues have been long term admirers of the player and were heavily interested in acquiring Kounde back in the 2021 summer transfer window, but were not willing to meet the full £68 million release clause quoted.
It is expected that manager Thomas Tuchel will attempt to strengthen his backline, especially when considering the contract situations of certain first-team members.
Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta are all free agents this summer, with neither looking likely to commit their long term futures at Stamford Bridge.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea do go back in for Kounde, whose current deal at Sevilla expires in June 2024.
