Barcelona make drastic Jules Kounde transfer U-turn as Chelsea offered hope amid De Ligt worry
Barcelona have seemingly switched their attentions away from Chelsea target Jules Kounde against Xavi’s wishes as the club reckon a certain defender outside of La Liga would be a ‘smarter’ investment.
The Catalan giants have really got going now in this summer’s transfer window. An economic lever of around £177m coupled by a second one which could be granted in the near future has provided the temporary funds for Xavi to commence his rebuild as the aim of catching up with Real Madrid remains in sight. As well as looking on track to extend Gavi’s contract, Barca have registered free agents Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen to their ranks. On top of this, they could soon be in for more success internally and externally in the form of Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha.
Both of whom at least one was expected to join the west Londoners this summer but it’s looking increasingly likely that the aforementioned economic levers may have stifled all of Chelsea’s transfer plans in this regard. They could even make it triple misery for Chelsea if they were to sign Kounde as well.
The Blues, who have held a long-term interest in the Frenchman, cooled interest recently to pursue and focus on Matthijs De Ligt but new owner Todd Boehly could be forced into another U-turn with the worrying latest Bayern Munich update.
Boehly and Tuchel will be happy to know that Barcelona, just like Chelsea, are currently not prepared to meet Sevilla’s £56m asking price they have attached to the 23-year-old’s back. Instead, Joan Laporta wants to go against Xavi’s wishes in this case and make a ‘smarter’ investment for the future.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, the side from Catalunya consider Monaco’s Benoit Badiashille as someone who makes more sense in the long-term with the fact that he’s left-footed and will cost a fraction on what their La Liga counterparts are asking for.
This will certainly annoy Sevilla director Monchi who updated everyone on what was going on regarding their number 23, who was destined for his dream Premier League move until Marina Granovskaia left the club.
“Xavi has good taste wanting Araujo and Kounde as central defenders, it’s not a bad partnership. But so far there has been zero contact with Barcelona,” said Monchi via The Daily Mirror.“I know that Chelsea have to look for two central defenders, but the interest in Kounde comes from England and other countries. I would have to be a fortune teller to know what is going to happen.
“There are calls from everywhere. The money is starting to roll in a bit. Kounde has established himself with France and will play at the World Cup. It’s logical that there is interest in him and there is. As of today, he is recovering from injury in Los Angeles and will join in Korea later, like the rest of the internationals.”
