Have Barcelona just STOLEN Jules Kounde from Chelsea?
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 23 Jul 2022 11:35 BST
- 3 min read
Jules Kounde’s transfer is currently clouded in mystery, with the only thing that seems certain over the Sevilla player’s future this summer is that he will be on the move. Indeed, a deal seems only hours away, but both Barcelona and Chelsea appear to be claiming success in the race for the France international.
While it was Barcelona who made the early running in the transfer window for Kounde, Chelsea seemed to take the edge early in July as they pinpointed the former Bordeaux player as their leading priority for the role.
Up until Friday night, the Stamford Bridge team appeared to be in pole position to sign Kounde. They have reached an agreement with the player over personal terms – although it should be stressed that it is normal practice for footballers to agree contracts in principle with numerous clubs – and they had made a bid that it seemed that Barcelona would be unable to match.
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Kounde in sensational U-turn?
However, a report from Spain on Saturday morning shattered any illusion that Chelsea fans might have had that a deal was done.
Gerard Romero, a respected Barcelona journalist, reported that Barcelona had reached an agreement with Sevilla over the transfer of the player.
“The deal will 99% be done, except for a cataclysm, in the next few hours. The central defender of Sevilla will become a Barcelona player,” he reported in strong terms.
🚨NOTICIA @JijantesFC
Esta madrugada el Barça y el Sevilla han llegado a un principio de ACUERDO por Jules Kounde.
Operación cerrada en un 99%, salvo cataclismo en las próximas horas el central del Sevilla será culer#JulesKoundeSeráCuler pic.twitter.com/MMBrvV4lRZ— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) July 23, 2022
It would mark a sensational U-turn in the transfer story of Kounde, who is likely to complete a switch for around a fee of €55 million all in.
Countering this report, though, is one from El Chiringuito, which says that Sevilla have claimed the information that has emerged regarding Barca's Kounde deal is false.
This continues the strange narrative that has developed regarding this deal, which is one of perpetual uncertainty.
Nevertheless, Barcelona activating their second economic lever on Friday may be responsible for the club finding the funds to match Chelsea’s offer, while it appears that Kounde will now sign for the Camp Nou side, who were widely reported to have offered his significantly inferior contract terms to the Premier League outfit.
