Transfer News: Chelsea giving up on Jules Kounde pursuit following high asking price. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Jules Kounde to Chelsea saga has been going on for what feels like an eternity now and even then, there is no end in sight yet.
Chelsea’s former director Marina Granovskaia had been at the heart of every Chelsea negotiation during her tenure. Naturally, the Russian-Canadian had also been involved in dialogues for the transfer of Kounde.
Despite having stepped down from her position, Granovskaia remains in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition of power, and to assist new Chairman and interim Sporting Director Todd Boehly if and when needed.
According to Italian football expert Gianluca Di Marzio via Wettfreunde (h/t Football London), Sevilla are likely to accept a fee in the region of £65 million for the Frenchman.
The same has been communicated to Barcelona, who have been attempting to snatch Kounde from under Chelsea’s nose for a while. However, their financial complications mean that they are not in a position to capitalize.
“Sevilla should be willing to accept £65m. So whoever wants Jules Kounde will have to pay £65million.
“Chelsea knows this message and so does Barcelona now.”
The Blues are expected to sign another centre-back this summer and Manchester City’s Nathan Ake was mentioned by Di Marzio as the second defender, who according to the journalist is “really appreciated” by his former club.
Should Chelsea successfully sign Kounde, some credit of that has to go to Granovskaia. The Blues have been in discussions with Sevilla and Kounde’s representatives since last year, and Chelsea’s “Iron Lady” had been at the focal point of those discussions.
It seems likely that Granovskaia will be assisting Boehly and co. to close the deal since she has been more involved in these negotiations. If successful, that really could be the perfect way for her to sign off on her accomplished Chelsea career.
Kounde is currently recovering from surgery on a minor pelvic issue and it is expected that the 23-year-old will return to Seville by mid-July.
The sooner Chelsea close this deal, the better it is for the entire squad because this seems to have been dragging on unnecessarily for a while now.
Now that the boardroom dilemma has settled, it’s high time that these negotiations start gaining some momentum.
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