Chelsea-Barcelona transfer tussle over Jules Kounde could have a domino effect | OneFootball

Chelsea and Barcelona are both in the race to sign Jules Kounde, and the result of that battle could have further implications for The Blues’ skipper Cesar Azpilicueta.

According to Gerard Romero (h/t Carpetas Blaugranas), Azpilicueta’s move to Barcelona is dependent on Chelsea signing Kounde from Sevilla with the Premier League outfit keen to add one more defender before parting ways with their current longest-serving player.

While Azpilicueta is largely expected to join Xavi Hernandez’s men anyway, the La Liga giants may have to wait a bit longer should they acquire the services of Kounde as that would force Chelsea to look elsewhere in their search for defensive reinforcement.

Thomas Tuchel’s men are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a move for Presnel Kimpembe, although there has now been a new development in that saga after Juventus beat Inter to the singing of Gleison Bremer, who had been lined up as a replacement for the seemingly PSG-bound Milan Skriniar.

With Inter now believed to be no longer willing to sanction a sale for Skriniar, the chances of Kimpembe departing the French capital now look slimmer and Chelsea could be set to miss out on the 26-year-old.

However, all that could prove to be immaterial should Chelsea snap up Kounde and the west Londoners are reportedly close to reaching an agreement for the defender, per CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs.

Barcelona will be expected to turn their attention elsewhere if they end up missing out on Kounde after the Blaugrana president stated the club’s desire to bring in new faces at the back.

“We want to make a competitive team, give Xavi the tools to have a good team and I think we are on the right track,” Joan Laporta was quoted saying by Marca following the completion of Robert Lewandowski’s move to Camp Nou.

“We are achieving it, but we have to work even harder.

“Now it’s time to work on the defence; Xavi has us focused on a series of players and I hope that the Catalans can take some more joy.”