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Jules Kounde to Chelsea. It's a transfer seemingly on the brink for over 12 months now, and nothing has changed as we approach the 2022 summer transfer window.

The Blues came really close to signing the French defender last summer. Kounde had agreed personal terms with the west London club in late August. The sale of Kurt Zouma to West Ham United was holding any deal up, but even after that was sanctioned, a move for Kounde collapsed.

Sevilla were not keen on selling their star defender, and they ended up frustrating Chelsea. When asked by Telefoot, via 90Min, whether the failed transfer affected him, Kounde said: "Yes, a little bit, but now I've dealt with it."

It affected Kounde, and it surely impacted Chelsea as well. The Blues wanted the Frenchman to come into their back-three, but financially, it could actually work out better for the Blues.

Last summer, Sevilla were not willing to sell Kounde unless his £68million release clause was met. The Spanish outfit will reportedly settle for more than £20m less now with the club said to be in a bit of a financial state right now.

Kounde is the ideal fit for a modern-day centre-back. Comfortable in possession, dominant in the air and able to make quick recoveries should the defence be caught out. As well as this, the Frenchman has played as a right-back at