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Chelsea are ‘very close’ to completing a deal to bring Sevilla defender Jules Kounde to Stamford Bridge according to reports. The Blues will offer Sevilla around £30million plus Kurt Zouma as they look to get the deal over the line.
Chelsea want to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla this summer (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea have built an impressive defensive platform under boss Thomas Tuchel and kept a staggering 11 clean sheets in his 19 Premier League games in charge.
Tuchel led his side to Champions League success just four months after taking over from Frank Lampard.
The Londoners have been linked with a number of attacking players this summer, including Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, but Kounde will be a welcome addition at the back.
Centre-back Zouma was a first-team regular under Lampard but fell down the pecking order when Tuchel joined the club.
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The 26-year-old was used sporadically under the German and didn’t appear in the Champions League after the last 16 stage.
The signing of Kounde will be a shrewd acquisition according to Spanish football expert Terry Gibson.
“He would be an excellent fit for anybody in the Premier League and it’s no surprise that Chelsea are trying to get him,” Gibson told talkSPORT.
“He’s a diminutive central defender, but he’s really good in the air. He’s quick, good on the ball and can play centre-back and right-back as well.
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Jules Kounde would be a key cog in the Chelsea defence (Image: GETTY)
“I think he’s an excellent player but I’d be surprised if it happens because Sevilla, having sold Bryan Gil, the player they wanted to keep is Jules Kounde.
“They are hoping that the finances received from Gil would enable them to keep him, but it appears perhaps the player believes it might be time to move on to a club which is challenging for the title.”
Chelsea will be aiming for another impressive season under Tuchel as they look to build on last term’s fourth-placed Premier League finish.
As well as their Champions League success in May, they reached the FA Cup final but were defeated 1-0.