Chelsea are closing in on £55m Jules Kounde, confident the deal will FINALLY be completed as Barcelona ‘opt out and instead target Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez’… leaving the Blues to up their summer transfer spending to Todd Boyley to £134m
- Barcelona made a late push to try and sign defender Jules Cunde
- Chelsea are now ready to agree a £55m fee with Sevilla for the defender
- Barcelona are now turning their attention to Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez
By Spencer Morgan for Mailonline
Posted: 16:01, July 22, 2022 | Updated: 16:54, July 22, 2022
Chelsea are close to completing a deal to sign Sevilla defender Jules Kunde, with Barcelona set to abandon their bid to sign him due to a lack of funds.
The two clubs have been battling it out for the 23-year-old’s signature this summer, with both submitting significant bids for the Frenchman in the past week.
Chelsea are understood to have a £55million deal for the France international, who traveled to Lagos in Portugal for their training camp after agreeing a five-year deal.
Jules Kunde is expected to sign for Chelsea in a £55m deal from Sevilla
The LaLiga giants made a last-ditch attempt to convince Kounde to join them after raising more funds with another rights sale on Thursday – but failed to get the Blues through.
Spanish outlet Sport claim they have already turned their attention to Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez.
Sevilla were inclined to accept the Blues’ offer over Barcelona’s as it offered clean money, while Barca offered players such as Memphis Depay.
The Frenchman made 32 appearances in La Liga last season as Sevilla finished fourth
Chelsea want to sign Kunde on a five-year deal as they look to strengthen their central defensive options.
Thomas Tuchel is keen to bring in more centre-backs following the departures of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.
The Blues have already signed Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli and are in discussions with Paris Saint-Germain for Presnel Kimpembe. RB Leipzig’s Josko Guardiol is also being considered.
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