Transfer News: Chelsea see Jules Kounde as the successor to Antonio Rudiger
According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Mirror), Chelsea are eyeing a move for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde and view him as the perfect replacement for Antonio Rudiger.
Chelsea are facing massive struggle on their hands to retain the s services of Rudiger beyond next summer. The German defender is yet to pen a fresh deal and several attempts from the Blues to tie him down a new contract has gotten nowhere.
There is a possibility the 28-year-old defender can leave the West London based club for free in the summer. In such a case, Thomas Tuchel’s team would need to bring in someone dependable to cover for the void left behind in the first XI.
Kounde meanwhile continues to make a name for himself in La Liga. The 23-year-old has been influential in the recent success of the Rojiblancos, who currently stand second in the Spanish top-flight table. The French starlet has helped his team keep a clean sheet in eight matches out of the 14 he featured in.
The interest from Chelsea, however, isn’t new. It is believed that the West Londoners are a massive admirer of Kounde and was close to signing him in the summer; however, they couldn’t reach an agreement with his parent club.
Nevertheless, it seems Thomas Tuchel’s team has rejuvenated their interest in him. Furthermore, Blues view the French player as a ‘potential replacement for Rudiger.’ Given the performances the German has given in recent months, that is high praise for Kounde indeed.
Rudiger has been a solid performer on-field, despite the off-field rumours. In the last game, the giant German showed why he is so essential for the squad, winning two penalties in the second half, which Jorginho converted. The penalties helped the Blues get past Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds and collect three valuable points that keeps them in the title race.
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However, his Chelsea future continues to be uncertain. The club is better off finding a solution prior to Rudiger potentially leaving rather than waiting for it to happen and then act. In Kounde, they could very well be getting themselves one of the best young defenders int eh game tody.