Barcelona are understood to be preparing their opening offer to move in for Chelsea target Jules Kounde whose Sevilla future hangs in the balance beyond this summer’s window.
Kounde is a top name on Thomas Tuchel’s wishlist at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have reportedly lodged a £55 million bid to sign the France international only for Barcelona to tell Kounde to hold out on his long-awaited switch to west London.
Koundé. Barça preparing opening bid – won’t match £55m, as structure will be different. No Depay and/or Dest included. Chelsea’s £55m bid, still valid in Sevilla’s hands.🚨🇫🇷 #FCB
Sevilla sources insist they’re “only talking to Chelsea right now”; but still no final green light. pic.twitter.com/prfLh1mi4k
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 24, 2022
The Catalan giants, despite their increasing concerns on the financial front, remain highly interested in signing the 23-year-old central defender and are readying their opening offer, according to a recent tweet by the Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Romano adds that the Barca camp will not match Chelsea’s offer of £55 million for the Sevilla defensive mainstay and would not be including either Memphis Depay or the American wing-back Dest in a possible cash-plus-player deal.
Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to be linked with a swoop for Paris Saint-Germain first-team regular Presnel Kimpembe who has reportedly requested the Ligue 1 giants to consider accepting an appropriate offer from his suitors.
