Sevilla turned down Chelsea’s approach for longstanding target Jules Kounde over pricing concerns and the centre-back has been backed to perform well for his club, according to the La Liga outfit’s boss Julen Lopetegui.
Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel had relentlessly pushed for a last-minute deal to land Kounde from Sevilla but the efforts went in vain with the Spaniards reluctant to part ways with their defensive mainstay for a cut-price fee.
Reports from Dario de Sevilla quote Lopetegui’s recent statements to the press in which the Spanish coach has voiced hope that Kounde continues his progress with the club despite what has been an upsetting transfer window for the young defender.
“Kounde in the end has stayed because the club has decided that it was the right thing to do based on the evaluation of the offers they may have had.”
“For me, as a coach, that Jules stays is positive. With the evolution he has had in these two years, it is positive, without any doubt.
“We trust that he’ll continue to grow with us and, above all, perform, which is the most important thing.”
The France international had been Tuchel’s priority target to bolster the backline at Stamford Bridge and the Chelsea boss had hoped to sign the player after sanctioning the departures of Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori in this summer’s transfer window.
Zouma made the move to local rivals West Ham United while Tomori had staged his exit from the Chelsea fold earlier in the summer to sign for his long-term suitors AC Milan.
