Transfer News: Chelsea to face Real Madrid competition for Sevilla star Jules Kounde
According to a report by Spanish outlet AS (h/t ESPN), Real Madrid have made Chelsea transfer target, Jules Kounde, one of two players in line to replace the outgoing Raphael Varane.
The 28-year-old France international is off to Manchester United this summer. And the task of replacing him at Santiago Bernabeu has already begun, with Los Galacticos keeping tabs on Sevilla’s Kounde.
Villarreal centre-back, Pau Torres, is another name on their shortlist. But it is their interest in Kounde which comes as potentially bad news for the Blues.
According to ESPN, Chelsea entered into talks with Los Nervionenses last month regarding a €70million move for the 22-year-old. That value is approximately €10million lower than Kounde’s release clause.
The Blues have also wanted to include out-of-favour defender, Kurt Zouma, in any possible deal. But the two clubs are still unable to agree on a valuation for the 26-year-old former St-Etienne defender.
Chelsea are close to signing Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan. A deal in the region of £97.5million has already been agreed, with the official announcement closer than ever.
And in a tweet made earlier this week by Fabrizio Romano, as covered by ASBTF, Chelsea were set to refocus their attention on the ex-Girondins de Bordeaux man.
But Madrid’s interest can really complicate matters. They already have two big spots opening up in their defence with the departures of Varane and Sergio Ramos, with the latter joining PSG earlier this summer.
More Chelsea News:
- Chelsea ace Timo Werner reacts to the impending arrival of Romelu Lukaku
- Transfer News: West Ham reopen negotiations for Chelsea star Kurt Zouma
- Transfer News: Liverpool steal a march on Chelsea target Saul Niguez
Nevertheless, Marina Granovskaia and co. must remain staunch in their approach for Kounde, while Chelsea fans should hope that the Spanish side prioritizes a move for Torres.