Chelsea close in on €60m deal for Jules Kounde but face competition from Barcelona

Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal with Sevilla for French defender Jules Kounde but the Premier League club are expected to face competition from Barcelona, according to media reports.

Chelsea, who completed the signing of Senegalese centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly last week, are in the market for more defenders after the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

Kounde has been a top target since last summer, when Chelsea were unable to agree a fee with Sevilla, but the Blues are closer this time round to landing the 23-year-old France international. It is being reported that Sevilla could accept €60 million ($61.4m) for Kounde, €5m less than the buyout clause in his contract, while the player is understood to have agreed personal terms with Chelsea.

However, Chelsea will hope recent history does not repeat itself. The Premier League side have already been beaten by Barcelona to the signature of Brazilian winger Raphinha this summer, and the Spanish giants are also reportedly interested in Kounde, despite already spending a reported €110m on new players amid their well-documented financial problems.

Should Chelsea complete the signing of Kounde, who can play as a right-sided centre-back or at right-back, it could pave the way for captain Cesar Azpilicueta to leave the club, with Barca rumoured to be keen on the versatile Spaniard, although that might still depend on the Blues signing more defenders.

Timo Werner and Raheem Sterling of Chelsea during a training session at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando. All photos by Getty Images

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is reportedly eager to add three more centre-backs to his squad and the club have held talks with Paris