Chelsea are backed to be confident of beating Barcelona to the signing of Sevilla’s central defender Jules Kounde this summer, according to a report from the Spanish media ( via The Daily Mirror).
Kounde has long been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge with the France international said to be a priority target for the Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel who wants to reinforce his backline in the transfer window.
After bringing in the Senelgese centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, Tuchel has bolstered his defensive roster but the German coach remains on the hunt for another signing with Kounde emerging once again on his radar.
Barcelona had been credited with a strong interest in moving in for the 23-year-old Frenchman but the cash-strapped Catalan giants have looked to prioritise strengthening other areas on the pitch by signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
With Chelsea mulling over parting ways with the Spanish duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, both eyed up at Camp Nou by the Barca manager Xavi, Tuchel would be more than glad to land Kounde and add to his options at the back.
