Chelsea were keen on signing Jules Koundé towards the end of the summer window, but their €50m proposal wasn’t enough to convince Sevilla to sanction the star’s sale.
On December 11th, Mundo Deportivo reported the Blues are still in the picture for the defender as they have ‘long been interested’ in him.
ABC Sevilla now state Thomas Tuchel has ‘not forgotten’ about the centre-back. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, as the German believes the 23-year-old can be a ‘great pillar’ of the club’s defence in the future.
The La Liga side’s decision to not let the France international leave the club in the summer has paid off as his performances this season have seen his market value rise close to his €80m release clause. Suitors must either pay this figure or make an offer close to the clause, for movements to take place.
It would be a ‘normal thing’ for the former Bordeaux man to leave the club next summer. However, any scenario cannot be ruled out for January, if the Champions League winners or another club decide to trigger the player’s buyout clause.
Apart from Tuchel’s side, there are other clubs in England interested in Koundé. However, ‘none of them can offer the player, at the moment, high sporting heights for which Chelsea fights’.
Tuchel is keen to sign Koundé, but ‘beyond the wishes of the Chelsea manager’, the reality ‘reflects striking urgencies’ at Stamford Bridge as four of their defender – Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rüdiger and César Azpilicueta – have contracts expiring in 2022.
The possibility of Koundé leaving Sevilla in January is not ruled out, but will only be possible if Chelsea [or another suitor] decide to pay the €80m clause.
