Chelsea are expected to be heavily involved in the summer transfer window yet again. The Blues are reportedly looking to bring in Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde and are prepared to offer one of five players in return to the Spanish club.
According AS, Chelsea are looking to bring in Sevilla star Jules Kounde this summer. The Blues are on the hunt for a centre-back and have shortlisted the French defender, alongside Atletico Madrid’s Jose Maria Gimenez and Bayern Munich’s Niklas Sule.
Even though Chelsea will likely face competition to sign Kounde, with both Manchester United and Real Madrid also interested, the report puts the Blues in pole position. The Frenchman has an €80million release clause in his current contract, which the London outfit could trigger. However, they are also willing to offer one of their players to Sevilla to sweeten the deal.
The biggest name which the club can use as a sweetener is Hakim Ziyech. The Moroccan attacker signed for Chelsea from Ajax ahead of the 2020/21 season but has found it difficult to break into the first team. Several reports have linked the 28-year-old with a swift exit from the club, and the Blues could even send him to Seville in exchange for Kounde.
Nonetheless, Ziyech is not the only player Chelsea are willing to offer in exchange for the centre-back. The Blues are prepared to offer strikers Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko to the La Liga outfit.
Abraham is currently in a contract stalemate with Chelsea with both parties yet to reach a breakthrough in negotiations. The Englishman is reportedly waiting for the club to make their move this summer and will decide his future accordingly. Batshuayi and Bakayoko, on the other hand, are already on their way out of the club. Both the players are spending the season on loan away from the team. Arrizabalaga, who became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in 2018, is also among the players on offer.
