Sevilla chief provides Chelsea major boost over Jules Kounde transfer but with one warning

Sevilla chief José María Cruz de Andrés has indicated that Jules Kounde is in a better place to leave the club this summer after Chelsea failed in their attempts to land the France international last year. Kounde is expected to complete a switch to Stamford Bridge with personal terms agreed for some time. But as yet, no official bid has been submitted for the 23-year-old, who is currently away on international duty with France.

The Blues attempted to land the defender in 2021 but saw their attempts foiled. Chelsea are said to have seen a £42,5 million offer rejected by the La Liga side, with Sevilla hoping to see the £69 million release clause met.

“The proposal for Kounde last summer [from Chelsea] was great, the most important we received in our history - but it wasn’t meeting our price tag," explained Sevilla sporting director, Monchi, in an interview with Canal Sur Radio. "Also, we received the bid in an inopportune moment.”

It seems on this occasion, providing Chelsea act in time, they will have a greater opportunity of landing their man, as the club look to reinvigorate Thomas Tuchel's defence following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. Sevilla's general manager has likened Kounde's situation to that of Diego Carlos, who has already left Sevilla for the Premier League.

Cruz told Sport Witness: "The case with Jules Koundé is very similar to the case of Diego Carlos. Not in the timing because we received offers for Jules Koundé in the last two seasons but always in the summer market

“We have rejected because we thought that this player can improve his performance. It was better to wait because the market at the time was depressing. We thought that waiting a while would [help us] obtain more