Todd Boehly ushered into funding £9.4m Chelsea top up to gift Thomas Tuchel perfect transfer

Chelsea have been handed a major blow in the race to sign Jules Kounde this summer, with the Sevilla defender reportedly subject to growing interest from Barcelona and Newcastle United. The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge lately, but the Blues now look set to lose sight of the centre-half.

He featured 32 times for the Spanish giants in La Liga this season, playing a significant role in the Julen Lopetegui's side, retaining the best defensive record in the league. Kounde's impressive displays have made him one of Europe's most coveted defenders this summer.

According to Goal, the groundwork at Chelsea has been put in place to sign the France international now that the sanctions have been lifted and that the takeover is completed. The west Londoners were linked with the defender ahead of the season and were understood to have agreed a deal worth around £43million, according to The Athletic.

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However, the subsequent sale of Kurt Zouma to West Ham reportedly saw Sevilla's sporting director, Monchi, increase the asking price to £69million to which Chelsea then halted their pursuit. understand that Kounde is the west London club's priority.

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