Chelsea transfer rumours: Blues beat Barca to seal £55m Kounde deal

Wrapping up the Chelsea transfer news, rumours and gossip in the 2022 summer window. Kounde joins Sevilla's pre-season tour as Chelsea talks continue

Jules Kounde has belatedly joined up with Sevilla's pre-season training camp in Portugal as Chelsea remain confident of completing a deal for the defender despite interest from Barcelona.

The player was initially left out of the group, but the Frenchman has now decided to join the group.

Chelsea have had a verbal agreement with Kounde since June. The 23-year-old has been admired by Tuchel for some time, having been linked with the Blues in last summer's transfer window.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admits he is a "little bit" annoyed with Barcelona over their pursuit of Cesar Azpilicueta.

The 32-year-old has 12 months remaining on his Chelsea contract and has reportedly asked to leave the club after a decade at Stamford Bridge to return to his native Spain with Barcelona.

But Tuchel says he is not sure if he wants to give Azpilicueta "what he wants", and believes Barca have undervalued the defender, comparing his value to that of recent Chelsea capture Kalidou Koulibaly, who signed for £33m from Napoli earlier this month.

When asked at the Universal Orlando Resort, if he has been annoyed by the Spanish giants' pursuit of Azpilicueta, Tuchel replied: "Maybe a little bit."

Thomas Tuchel has played down talk that Armando Broja is set to leave Chelsea on loan this summer.

Broja excelled during a loan spell last season at Southampton but the indications are he will form part of Tuchel's plans this term.

"I don't expect him to leave," Tuchel continued. "I'm aware of the offers and aware of the interest. We will make a decision together, the owner and me and the player.

"When he