Chelsea have upped their bid for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde to the €65m (£55m/$66m) asking price set by the Spanish club, with the Blues submitting a new transfer bid in an effort to sign the Frenchman to a deal at Stamford Bridge.
Over the past year, Thomas Tuchel’s team has engaged in a lengthy, sporadic chase of the La Liga defender in an effort to strengthen their defence in the Premier League.
With the exits of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, the need to boost their back-line ranks has been more pressing – but after having earlier bids rejected for failing to reach the sum requested, they have now agreed to a deal that meets his worth.
What’s The Update On Chelsea’s Pursuit For Kounde?
After a recent bid for the defender was turned down, the Blues have returned with a deal that they think will satisfy Sevilla, who have been reluctant to let one of their star performers leave this summer.
According to reports confirmed by GOAL Spain, the new proposal is an enticing one. Chelsea will hope that it offers enough to convince the team as they work on the player.
Kounde is said to be in talks with both the Premier League and Barcelona about a possible move, though how much financial clout the cash-strapped Blaugrana have after surrendering important non-playing assets to land Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha remains to be seen.
Related: Sevilla Reject Chelsea €55m Bid For Kounde, Waiting For Barcelona Next
What Else Are The Blues Planning In The Market?
Although there have been a number of departures from the Blues due to the uncertainty surrounding the start of the Todd Boehly era, the team currently appears to be pushing forward with a delayed transfer agenda.
Despite the fact that Romelu Lukaku has been loaned out to Inter, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have both been huge statement signings for Chelsea as Tuchel attempts to overhaul his team in preparation for another title charge.
After missing out on Barcelona’s new kid Raphinha, another forward appears to be a plausible alternative. Chelsea reportedly reached a deal with Leeds United for the Brazilian, only for the latter to reject personal terms as he waited for Barcelona to stump up the cash for a deal with the Elland Road club.
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