Barcelona have introduced that they’ve agreed a deal in precept for the switch of Jules Kounde, beating Chelsea to the Sevilla defender.
Kounde had appeared set to affix Chelsea final week, having been linked with Stamford Bridge since final summer time, earlier than the Catalan membership swooped in to steal the participant from underneath Thomas Tuchel’s nostril.
The payment for the 23-year-old is considered round £45million, and the deal remains to be topic to the passing of his medical and signing of contracts.
The France worldwide has been probably the most spectacular younger central defenders within the high European leagues up to now couple of seasons, having signed for Sevilla three years in the past from Bordeaux in his homeland, with the La Liga membership paying simply over £25m for his providers.
He received the UEFA Europa League together with his new aspect on the finish of his first season in Spain, and was a part of the French nationwide group squad which emerged victorious within the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League.
He turns into Barcelona’s fifth signing of the summer time following the arrivals of Franck Kessie, ex-Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, though questions stay about how Xavi’s aspect have been in a position to afford all these gamers given their well-documented monetary points.
Regardless, it’s yet one more large switch blow for Chelsea, who’ve seen quite a few defensive targets rejecting strikes to West London.
Matthijs de Ligt opted to affix Bayern Munich from Juventus, whereas Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe have opted to say at Manchester Metropolis and PSG respectively.
Tuchel has managed so as to add centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly to his squad, alongside ahead Raheem Sterling, however this has been a really irritating first switch window for brand new Blues’ proprietor Todd Boehly.
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