Chelsea handed boost in their pursuit of Jules Kounde as the defender tells Sevilla he remains determined to leave the club… with the Blues searching for a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Antonio Rudiger
Jules Kounde has told Sevilla that he is determined to leave the club this summerChelsea came close to signing the defender last year only for a deal to collapseThe Blues have not given up hope and are still on the hunt for a new centre-backAntonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are both set to leave Stamford Bridge
Jules Kounde has paved the way for a move to Chelsea this summer by telling Sevilla he remains determined to leave the Spanish club.
France defender Kounde saw a long-mooted transfer to Chelsea fall apart last summer, after Sevilla refused to let the highly-rated centre-back leave for less than his £68million release clause.
Chelsea thought they had a deal wrapped up, only for Sevilla to dig in at the last with the switch falling through just before the summer’s transfer window closed.
Jules Kounde has told Sevilla that he remains determined to leave the club this summer
Antonio Rudiger’s impending free transfer move to Real Madrid leaves Chelsea requiring senior central defensive reinforcement however.
Andreas Christensen’s summer Barcelona switch adds further urgency to the Blues’ situation, though highly-rated teen defender Levi Colwill could stake a claim to join the senior squad in pre-season.
Chelsea cannot currently make any new signings or complete fresh contract terms with existing players under the club’s UK Government sanctions.
The club’s sale should be complete next month however, allowing Chelsea bosses to revert to business as usual.
Chelsea have lost clear ground in the transfer market due to the club’s licensing constraints as a…