A fresh update on the ongoing battle for the signature of Sevilla star Jules Kounde has been provided on Monday evening.
The name of stopper Kounde, of course, has taken its place front and centre in the headlines across the summer to date.
This comes with the French international having been added to the transfer wishlists of not one, but two heavyweights of the European game.
The clubs in question? Barcelona and Chelsea.
The latter, of course, have been keen on Kounde’s services for over a year now, with the Blues’ fruitless pursuits of both Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake this time round having seen the 23-year-old take his place back atop Thomas Tuchel’s shortlist of defensive targets.
Sevilla v FC Barcelona: Copa del Rey Semi Final First Leg Jules Kounde of Sevilla CF celebrates his goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey semifinals first leg match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan in Sevilla, Spain (Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/DAX Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Barca, though, now eyeing reinforcements at the back after sealing impressive deals for both Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, have too set their sights firmly on the talented Kounde.
Chelsea, in turn, have been left with no choice but to act. And, according to reports doing the rounds on Monday evening, this is precisely what the transfer team at Stamford Bridge, today, have done.
The Pensioners, it is understood, have tabled an opening offer worth a fee in the region of €50 million, plus add-ons, to their counterparts at Sevilla.
Confidence, as a result, is growing that Kounde will ultimately be a Chelsea player in time for the 2022/23 season kicking into gear.
It now remains to be seen whether or not Barca are willing to step forward with a similarly lucrative proposal.
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