For the second day in a row, a section of Spanish press continue to insist Barcelona are still in the fight with Chelsea to sign Jules Koundé.
On Saturday, Mundo Deportivo stated the La Liga side have not contacted Sevilla for the 23-year-old. They have changed their stance on Sunday.
Mundo state some Barca sources on Friday, who stated the defender close to Chelsea, now don’t rule out his arrival at the Camp Nou. In fact, they are increasingly optimistic this will be the final outcome.
Barca have the funds to carry out the France international’s signing, after activating the second economic lever on Friday. They want him to remain firm and resist pressure from the Andalusian club to sell him to the Blues. This is ‘key’ for the Camp Nou side to carry out the operation.
Earlier this week, reports insisted Koundé’s move to Stamford Bridge was imminent, but that hasn’t happened yet. Mundo view this as confirmation he is waiting for Barca. The only problem for them is they cannot match Chelsea’s offer to the player.
Everyone, including Barca, took it for granted the central-back would join Thomas Tuchel’s side, before the Spanish giants were given new hope. That’s because ‘something broke’ between the Blues and Sevilla on Thursday.
Sport explain Barca are preparing an official proposal ‘directly offering a high amount in cash’. This indicates their offer would include a higher fixed fee than the one proposed by Chelsea.
The report states Barca’s overall deal won’t surpass the €65m offered by the English club. There is belief Sevilla would accept their La Liga counterpart’s offer. At the moment, Xavi’s side have not made any official offer, and when they do, ‘everything will speed up’.
The decisive factor in this operation is Koundé’s desire to join Xavi’s side. Barca, for their part, have asked the Frenchman to ‘withstand’ pressure from Sevilla to sell him Chelsea.
Sport state: ‘Now, in this war between Barca and Chelsea over Koundé there may still be a few more chapters left, because Thomas Tuchel’s intention is to continue fighting for the French central defender and he wants to ask the heads of the English club that when they arrive from the United States, they present a new offer for the player.’
