Jules Kounde Transfer: Jules Kounde to Chelsea: Chelsea and Manchester United have rekindled their interest in Jules Kounde, a fugitive Barcelona defender, as they compete to sign him. The Blues’ unsuccessful attempts to lure Sevilla’s best player to west London during the summer of 2022 were mostly overshadowed by the Jules Kounde transfer scandal. Follow Premier League Transfer Live Updates on InsideSport.IN
After failing to sign Kounde at Stamford Bridge last summer, when he joined Barcelona for an initial cost of €50 million (£42 million/$50 million), with up to €10 million (£8.3 million/$10.2 million) in add-ons in a four-year contract, Sport reports that the Blues have revived their interest in the defender.
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Manchester United is apparently interested in the French international as well, so it is not just the Premier League team from London that has shown an interest.
The article also states that the defender is open to moving on if there is an agreement between all parties and that he is ready to take on a new challenge. Kounde is reportedly dissatisfied with his situation at Barcelona since Xavi Hernandez has mostly played him as a right-back rather than his natural position as a center-back.
Additionally, he is aware that the team recently acquired centre defender Inigo Martinez from Atheltic, which would further relegate his athleticism to the right-back position.
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Barcelona is aware of the Premier League teams’ interest in Kounde and has already let him know that if he wants to go to the Premier League, they would not accept anything less than €75 million.
The Blaugrana are willing to sell a number of players, including Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Frank Kessie, and Raphinha, in order to balance their books and adhere to La Liga’s Financial Fair Play requirements (FFP).
It is no secret that Chelsea and Manchester United are both looking to add defensive players to their rosters. Kounde’s price tag, meanwhile, may end up being a roadblock for both teams.
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