How serious is Barca’s competition to Chelsea over Kounde?

Robin Bairner

7 Feb 2022 17:24 GMT
3 min read

Jules Kounde, Sevilla, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Barcelona have turned their attentions to Sevilla defender Jules Kounde as a possible summer 2022 transfer target, with head coach Xavi said to be a major fan of the player.

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Kounde has recently attracted interest from Chelsea, with the Premier League club failing to sign the France international defender after a concerted effort last summer.

Should the Blues attempt to move for Kounde again, they are likely to find an additional obstacle in their way in the form of the Blaugrana.

Barcelona could see centre-back Ronald Araujo move on. The youngster is struggling to reach an agreement with the Camp Nou side, while there is transfer interest from Real Madrid and others, who can sign him on a free come the end of the season.

Other reports suggest that Gerard Pique is seriously considering retirement at the end of the season. He is 35.

Chelsea transfer target Jules Kounde playing for Sevilla in La Liga — © ProShots

Meanwhile, Sport reports that Barcelona want to make “two impact signings” – players who are among the best on the market who can kickstart Xavi’s new era.

It is added that while at boardroom level there is an obsession with signing Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, Xavi would prefer a central defender to arrive.

He favours Kounde because he is young, strong, technically sound and versatile.

Kounde’s transfer status

Sevilla made it perfectly clear to Chelsea last summer that they will not allow Kounde to leave for anything below the €80 million value of his release clause. The player has a deal until 2024 so that will not have changed.

There is a greater question to be asked as to whether Barca have the means to sign Kounde, particularly in the face of interest from the Blues. This is something that even the club does not appear to be certain of, though they do feel that if they can match the Premier League side’s proposal, the player will head to them.

With Chelsea set to lose Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and possibly Antonio Rudiger, too, they now face a war with Barcelona to sign Kounde.