Chelsea are among the sides interested in Sevilla center-back Jules Kounde and are said to be considering starting a player-plus cash offer for the Frenchman.
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Kounde is seen by many as one of the game’s best young defenders, and his form also attracts admiring looks from Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid, but his £ 69 million release clause has currently kept him in Sevilla.
Kounde is high on United’s wish list | Angel Martinez / Getty Images
Sources have confirmed to 90 minutes that United are extremely keen on Kounde and are optimistic about the chance to lower his asking price, and AS says that Chelsea are now hoping for something similar.
To try and avoid paying the full figure for Kounde – the Blues remain in the £ 150 million race for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and want to save money elsewhere – Chelsea are considering giving Sevilla the choice of a handful of players in exchange.
The names on the list are a real mixed bag. Unwanted borrowers like Michy Batshuayi and Tiemoue Bakayoko are there, while reserve goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga can also be charged, but two surprising additions are striker Tammy Abraham and attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech.
Ziyech has been connected to an output | Chloe Knott – Danehouse / Getty Images
Of the gang, it is Ziyech’s inclusion that raises eyebrows. The Moroccan playmaker, who made a move to Sevilla in 2019, only joined the club last summer in a deal worth up to 37 million pounds, although he has not yet reached the heights expected of him.
In 28 games in all competitions, Ziyech has only conceded four goals and four assists – form that has seen him fight to keep a permanent place in the lineup under either Frank Lampard or current manager Thomas Tuchel.
Seeing Chelsea cut ties with Ziyech soon would come as a huge surprise, although Blues officials may see it as a necessary blow to ensure they can strengthen their back line with Kounde.
Chelsea consider their options for Kounde | Octavio Passos / Getty Images
Chelsea will probably try to include their unwanted players first. Batshuayi, Bakayoko and Arrizabalaga could all be sold this summer anyway, so the chance to use them in a deal for perhaps the best young defender around must not be missed.
An opening bid is expected to come from Stamford Bridge in the near future, and from the sound of it, it may be quite surprising.
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