Chelsea risk repeating costly Jules Kounde transfer mistake with Romelu Lukaku loan talks

Chelsea supporters had been starved of genuine transfer news for much of the summer of 2021. Yet as August approached – and with the new season on the horizon – news emerged that the European champions were close to agreeing a move for a highly-regarded defender: Jules Kounde.

Personal terms had been struck over a five-year contract; no problem there. The next step was to submit an offer to the centre-back's club, Sevilla. It was hoped a bid of £43 million-plus add-ons would be enough. Unfortunately, that didn't prove the case. Yet Chelsea remained confident and put the transfer on the backburner as they finalised a club-record deal for Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian's £97.5million return from Inter Milan was concluded on August 13. There was still plenty of time for Chelsea to secure Kounde's services – and they attempted to despite the emergence of Trevoh Chalobah under Thomas Tuchel during pre-season.

Yet as the transfer window inched towards its conclusion, Sevilla raised their asking price and eventually decided the France international would not leave unless his £68m release clause was paid. It was at that point that Chelsea paused their pursuit and focused on what they had for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.

Kounde was not best pleased with Sevilla and admitted his failed move to Stamford Bridge impacted him in the early weeks of the season. Speaking to Telefoot in November, he said: "Did my failed transfer to Chelsea this summer affect me? Yes, a little bit, but now it's digested."

The 23-year-old would go on to play 44 times for Sevilla in all competitions last term. Chelsea, meanwhile, maintained their interest a were expected to launch a move for Kounde prior to this summer's transfer window. However,