Chelsea look set to complete a move for Jules Kounde this summer, 12 months on from trying to sign him first.
According to Diario AS in Spain it is 'only a matter of time' before a deal is completed, worth around £51.5million. Chelsea have had to wait to make moves, but with Todd Bohely's takeover of the club complete, attention turns to bolstering the Blues' squad for a Premier League title challenge next season. In order to to do, the Blues will need to address the defence having seen a number of key players depart already.
Antonio Rudiger's move to Real Madrid has been confirmed and Andreas Christensen is set to join him in Spain, albeit with rivals Barcelona. Thomas Tuchel will need at least one replacement and Kounde is believed to be the team's first choice having nearly signed last summer.
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A move for the French international fell through at the last minute and both teams continued with their seasons. And Kounde in the immediate aftermath of the collapsed transfer said that with the summer been and gone, any talk of him leaving was 'over' as he looked to focus on the La Liga side.
“As always, we all know it was a lively summer. Now it is over,” Kounde said last September. “I am concentrating on the team, on what I have to do.
“The team needs me and I need the team to perform at our best. At the moment, I am happy with the results, with how I am playing, though I have a lot of room to improve and to have a more complete season than last season.”
Things have changed since Kounde last spoke. Sevilla are said to be in financial trouble and have already sold Diego Carlos to Aston Villa. Kounde could well be next and this time, the team may need him to join Chelsea to allay their financial fears. There has been plenty of back and forth over a deal, but Chelsea are thought to be convinced a deal can happen and reports in Spain suggest it's just a 'matter of time'.
