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Chelsea are set to walk away from a deal for Jules Kounde, with reports suggesting the defender's height has played a part.

The Blues' stance is in stark contrast to that of Manchester United, who were prepared to spend big on Lisandro Martinez despite the Argentine being an inch shorter than Kounde at 5'9". The Sevilla man now looks poised to join Barcelona, who have already added former Chelsea man Andreas Christensen to their ranks this summer.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted he isn't sure if the Blues will be ready for the new season after some difficult preparations. With a number of defenders moving on and only Kalidou Koulibaly arriving, the former Borussia Dortmund boss faces a race against time ahead of the league opener.

According to The Guardian, Chelsea are on the brink of walking away from a deal for Kounde. The Frenchman was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in January, with interest stepped up over the summer.

The same report