The huge £700m Barcelona decision that could see them overtake Chelsea in race for Jules Kounde

Not again, surely not again. Chelsea thought they were home and dry. They might have had serious plans for the announcement video. The link up in defence would have been something to behold. It can't happen again, can it?

Just as the Blues looked to have made their decisive move in a year long game of chess, the board gets given another shake up and things could leave their hands once more. Jules Kounde, nearly a Chelsea player on two occasions now, might have to wait a little bit longer to find out who his next club will be.

It had been expected to be Todd Boehly's Chelsea as the American, aided by Behdad Eghbali, submitted a £55m offer for the player on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 20. The Blues made a key move at a key time for a key target and looked to have beaten other interested parties to the signing.

As has been the case all summer, Barcelona were part of that background. Joan Laporta holds interest in Kounde and offers an in-league move for the player which adds another level of complication to a deal that has already taken twists and turns over the last 12 months. There were several questions for the Spanish club to think of before entering any talks for the 23-year-old, though.

Firstly, would Sevilla want to sell him to a rival? The answer is no, they would prefer to sell him to Chelsea. That didn't put Xavi's side off though, personal terms wouldn't be an issue and both clubs are believed to have gotten to that stage with Kounde. The third and most important question is, could Barcelona afford him?

The honest answer for most is that nobody really knows anymore. Barcelona are effectively selling the long-term soul of the club to fund this transfer window and given their current and still rising financial