Why Chelsea are still favourites for Kounde despite Arsenal and Spurs interest

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 16 Sep 2021 09:03 CDT
• 6 min read

Chelsea were expected to complete a transfer for Jules Kounde of Sevilla this summer but could not get it over the line due to the Spanish side’s transfer demands.

Sevilla wanted Kounde’s €80 million release clause met in full before he would be allowed to leave the club.

Despite Chelsea’s efforts to talk them down, they were unmoving and the France international remained in Andalusia.

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The story is not over, though. Chelsea are expected to go back in for Kounde in January, while there is fresh interest reported in the player by TMW from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.

Here’s why the Blues are still favourites to complete a deal to sign the 22-year-old.

Status

Chelsea are the European champions and are primed to enjoy another successful season under Thomas Tuchel, having retained the body of the squad that thrived under the German last season. Romelu Lukaku, meanwhile, has added another dimension to their attacking play.

Given the state of both Arsenal and Tottenham, there is no guarantee that either will be playing Champions League football next season, despite Nuno Espirito Santo’s strong start at Spurs. This will surely be the minimum that Kounde requires to be attracted to a club.

Necessity

Of these three clubs, Chelsea are the team likeliest to be in the market for a centre-back. After all, the decision to allow Kurt Zouma to leave for West Ham on Deadline Day was presumably built around the idea that a deal would be completed for Kounde. Furhtermore, Antonio Rudiger remains locked in contract talks. If these fail, he will leave for free in the summer. They are presently short staffed in that area.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have put their money on Ben White being the solution to their problems in defence long term and it would seem an act of folly to bet upon another young player alongside him – even if Kounde has proven himself high quality.

Tottenham have more need for a central defender than their London neighbours. They lost Toby Alderweireld in the summer and though Cristian Romero arrived from Atalanta, Barcelona are reportedly plotting a move.

Money

Chelsea have the most financial muscle of the three London sides, highlighted by the big-money move they completed for Romelu Lukaku in the summer.

Furthermore, they are the least prudent when it comes to spending. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is renowned for his hard-nosed approach to negotiating while Arsenal may have spent more than any other club in the world this summer but are not considered the powerhouse that Chelsea are.

If the Blues really want Kounde, they will sign him.

The one thing that counts against Chelsea...

Where Tottenham and Arsenal do hold an advantage over Chelsea comes in terms of the systems that they play. Both prefer a four-man rearguard, which is the same as Sevilla typically use.

Chelsea, on the other hand, would require Kounde to learn to play on the right side of a back three. Though he is regarded as an adaptable defender, this need to study a new role may give their rival clubs a slight edge.