The bold £50m signing that could see Chelsea finally complete radical defence overhaul
Chelsea have been linked to Jules Koundé, with reports suggesting the Blues are considering a bid for the Barcelona defender in the winter transfer window. This would be the second time Chelsea have pursued the French defender, having lost out to Barcelona for his signature in the summer of 2022.
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Hide AdKoundé previously explained that then-Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández influenced his decision to join the Catalans over Chelsea after speaking with him. Now that Xavi has left the club, replaced by German manager Hansi Flick, Chelsea may see an opportunity to tempt Koundé away from Camp Nou.
Reports suggest that the French right-sided defender is among five players shortlisted by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as potential replacements for the injury-prone Reece James. The other players on the list include Jeremie Frimpong of Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode, Freiburg defender Kiliann Sildillia, and Geovany Quenda of Sporting CP, the reigning Portuguese champions.
Of the shortlist, Koundé appears to be the most experienced and a strong fit for Chelsea. His ability to play both as a central defender and on the right side means that, once Reece James overcomes his injury struggles, the two could fit into the same starting lineup.
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Hide AdChelsea are in desperate need of an experienced defender at the back due to James' continued absence. The club captain is their most seasoned defender but has yet to play a game this season. Last season, he managed only 10 games, and just when he recovered in the summer ahead of the new campaign, he suffered another setback.
As two-time European champions, Chelsea cannot afford to rely on James given his injury record and must act in January to find a long-term solution, even if James returns before the winter transfer window opens.
Koundé won’t come cheap. Barcelona reportedly paid £41.85 million to sign him from Sevilla in the summer of 2022, and the club will likely demand a similar figure. Current reports suggest Barcelona could consider offers around £50 million, a sum Chelsea may be willing to pay, given Koundé's quality, experience, and versatility.
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Hide AdHowever, Chelsea are not alone in their interest. London rivals Arsenal are also reportedly keen on Koundé, with Mikel Arteta viewing him as an upgrade on Ben White and the injury-prone Takehiro Tomiyasu.
If Chelsea see Koundé as a long-term solution to Reece James’ ongoing absence, they must act swiftly. Delaying could invite competition from other clubs, driving up his price."
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