Chelsea close in on £55m Jules Kounde, with confidence that a five-year deal will FINALLY be completed this weekend… and boss Thomas Tuchel hints he may also deny Barcelona move for Cesar Azpilicueta
- Barcelona made a late attempt to try and sign defender Jules Kounde
- Chelsea are now set to agree a fee of £55m with Sevilla for the defender
- Cesar Azpilicueta had been looking at a potential move to the Nou Camp
Chelsea’s new owners are set to complete a hat-trick of new signings with Jules Kounde close to becoming the club’s third summer arrival
A fee of around £55m has been agreed with Seville for the defender, 23, who has been offered a five-year contract, following deals for £47.5m Raheem Sterling and £34m Kalidou Koulibaly
Chelsea appear to have beaten competition from Barcelona for the France international, who was widely courted, and it had been thought that the move would open the door for captain Cesar Azpilicueta to join the Spanish club, a switch he is keen on following more than a decade at Stamford Bridge.
Jules Kounde is expected to sign for Chelsea in a deal worth £55million from Sevilla
The Frenchman made 32 appearances in LaLiga last season as Sevilla finished fourth
However, manager Thomas Tuchel revealed he may not sanction the departure – and took a dig at the La Liga giants, suggesting they are undervaluing the 32-year-old.
‘I am not sure I want to give Azpi what he wants,’ the German said. ‘At some point it is also about us and just made the comparison of how much we fought for (Koulidou) Koulibaly. He is a national player, he is the similar age as Azpi, a hugely important player, captain for Napoli. But we have a Spanish international player, captain for Chelsea and I see it on the same level but Barcelona does not see it on that level so I’m not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants.’
Tuchel, speaking from a press conference at a sweltering Universal Studios to preview Saturday’s clash with Arsenal, added that his focus had to be on what was best for Chelsea.
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is keen on sealing a move to Barcelona this summer
‘I don’t think so much about other clubs as I think about us,’ he said. ‘The full focus is on us and what…