Five Jules Kounde alternatives for Chelsea

Karan Tejwani

• Updated: 25 Jul 2022 09:13 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea have seemingly been gazumped to another target by Barcelona, as it seems like Jules Kounde is on his way to the Catalan club.

The French defender looked to be on his way to London, but a late move by Barcelona seems to have turned his head, and Kounde is set to move to Xavi’s side instead.

Now, the Blues are to head back into the market to find another defender, and they have a few options they can choose from before the window shuts.

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Josko Gvardiol

RB Leipzig’s Gvardiol is highly rated by many across Europe and is another player to come out of the club’s brilliant development system.

The former Dinamo Zagreb defender only moved to Germany last season, and is a target for many across Europe, with his impressive performances in his debut Bundesliga campaign catching the eye.

He won’t be easy to sign, though, as Leipzig are chasing a big fee for him, and it’ll only get bigger as they get closer to the start of the season.

Nordi Mukiele

Another RB Leipzig player, Mukiele will be cheaper than Gvardiol, and he’ll be a worthwhile signing too, due to his versatility allowing him to play multiple positions.

The Frenchman has played at the centre of defence, right-back, wing-back and previously in midfield, making him a useful addition to any team.

There is one big problem, though: Chelsea will have to enter a competition with Paris Saint-Germain to sign him, as the French champions have already agreed terms with the player and Leipzig to sign him.

Wesley Fofana

Another French player, Fofana has done well for Leicester City in recent times and is undoubtedly their best defensive player.

Fofana has decent Premier League experience, although Chelsea will be vary of his recent injury history, and see it as a cause for concern.

A move won’t be cheap either: the 21-year-old is believed to cost around £60 million, as Leicester hope to make a big profit on the player.

Milan Skriniar

Like Mukiele, Skriniar is another player close to a move to Paris Saint-Germain, and a move could be completed soon, which means the Blues will have to enter a competition for him.

The Slovak has been one of Serie A’s most consistent in recent times and has been at the heart of Inter’s title challenges over the last few years.

Signing him may prove to be a challenge though, as Chelsea will have to fork out big money again and do so quickly to avoid losing him to PSG.

Presnel Kimpembe

A player Chelsea were interested in earlier, the Blues may have to go in for Kimpembe yet again following Kounde’s refusal to join.

The Blues were very interested in the Frenchman, and Paris Saint-Germain were open to selling as well, and they could enter negotiations again.

However, they may be put off by the price, as some reports suggest PSG are hoping to make around €70 million for the defender.