Jules Kounde decides to wait for Barcelona offer despite Chelsea agreement

Jules Kounde is holding out for a move to Barcelona despite already agreeing a deal to join Chelsea, according to reports in Spain.

Chelsea reached a £55 million agreement with Sevilla for Kounde this week which will see them pay £51m up front plus a further £4m in add-ons for the France international.

Barcelona are also interested in Kounde but the Spanish club have not yet submitted an offer to Sevilla due to their financial restrictions.

Kounde has agreed a five-year contract with Chelsea, who are aiming to sign one more central defender alongside the 23-year-old and Kalidou Koulibaly, who joined in a €40m (£34m) deal from Napoli over the weekend.

According to The Guardian, Barcelona have told Kounde to wait for them to send their offer to Sevilla, with Xavi keen on completing a deal.

And Spanish radio station Cope reported on Thursday evening that Kounde has decided to hold out for Barcelona to negotiate with Sevilla, and talks have now begun between the two clubs.

The situation resembles Chelsea’s move for Raphinha earlier this summer when their £55m bid was accepted by Leeds United, but the Brazil international continued to wait for Barcelona to make an approach.

Kounde had been left out of Sevilla’s squad for their friendlies against Sporting CP and Angers this weekend but it’s understood that the defender has now made himself available for those two games.

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Chelsea, meanwhile, remain in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a move for their French central defender Presnel Kimpembe.

RB