Chelsea have opened talks with Sevilla over an agreement to sign French midfielder Jules Kounde.
The Blues have long been looking for a young defender who can lead the line for the next decade, and Kounde is one of several names that have played their way onto his radar over the past 12 months.
Could be requested by most top sites / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Kounde is wanted by a whole range of sides, but according to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are working to force themselves to the front of the gender and have started talks with Sevilla in the hope of finding a deal.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the 22-year-old is very willing to join Chelsea because he wants to play regular Champions League football, and as the reigning champions in Europe, the Blues have a special attraction this summer.
It was the desire for European football that saw Kounde stumble upon London rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the window. Spurs had agreed a deal worth £ 25 million plus Davinson Sanchez with Sevilla, only for the player to reject the chance to move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It does not seem to be happening with these negotiations, so it is a question of whether Chelsea can come up with an offer that is good enough to arouse Sevilla’s interest.
Kounde comes with a release clause of over £ 70 million but is expected to be available for close to £ 50 million, although that price tag can be lowered by including players as Sevilla are keen to avoid paying too much to the former club Bordeaux as part of their sales clause.
Bordeaux is entitled to 20% of all future sales of Kounde, so the chance to take a player in exchange and leave less to the French side seems appealing to Sevilla.
Kounde is open to joining Chelsea / John Berry / Getty Images
Chelsea are expected to download Frenchman Kurt Zouma this summer, and if we put on our speculative hats for a while, this deal will definitely scream £ 25 million plus Zouma. If Sevilla were interested in Sanchez, they will probably receive Zouma instead.
If Sevilla are not keen, Zouma could still be sold elsewhere to raise extra money, with Roma and Tottenham both keen on the £ 25m-rated man.
