Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0 at the weekend and are looking like serious top five contenders in the Premier League this season. The Blues, however, need further reinforcements to challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the title.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are now looking to revamp their backline and have identified Barcelona defender Jules Kounde as a potential addition, with the player likely to depart the Catalans having lost prominence in Hansi Flick’s plans lately.
Xabi Alonso is expected to privately discuss his and Chelsea’s interest in Kounde directly with the player. The Londoners’ interest in the Frenchman isn’t new as they had been keen on him since his time at Sevilla, when he ultimately joined Barca.
In recent weeks, Flick’s inclination towards the likes of Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi at centre back, and Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart has seen Kounde remain largely on the bench. Therefore, he could now be open to a Premier League switch.
Kounde a brilliant signing for Chelsea next year
Jules Kounde is an excellent defender and in the last couple of seasons at Barcelona, he has upped his quality as a right back despite naturally being a centre back. His quality will significantly help improve Chelsea.
The 27-year-old is very composed on the ball and helps distribute effectively from the back, whereas without the ball, he is quick, can stay on top of his man, makes accurate tackles and can excel in physical duels in spite of his short height.
His experience at Sevilla and now with Barcelona means he has extensive knowhow of the elite level of the game, whereas his age makes him a very good medium-term option for Chelsea in the prime phase of his career.
Kounde might seek assurances over his role at Chelsea as his primary reason for leaving Barcelona would be to regain his feet, and it will be interesting to see what Xabi Alonso has in mind for the Frenchman, who is valued at £46 million on Transfermarkt.
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