Chelsea Set To Confirm Signing Of Jules Kounde

The Blues have beat Barcelona to the French international

Image via Terry Flewers

Well folks, I had a feeling I’d need to jump back on today, and it’s for a great reason!

As it’s been brewing all day, the Matt Law dagger as they say, has been delivered.

Law of The Telegraph, has finally written the report we have all been waiting for, that Chelsea are set to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla for £55m.

It was never in doubt. Ok, maybe a little, but as I’ve been writing on here all week and consistently been reporting, I was always optimistic of getting it done despite what Gerard Romero and his cronies kept writing. On that by the way, please please please can we all make a pact now, and stop mentioning or reading his ‘news’ when it comes to Chelsea transfers? It’s just not healthy for anyone! All the Sevilla sources I’ve spoken to this week have remained adamant that Kounde would join Chelsea and that narrative never changed.

I had also always been told by my own sources that it’s been VERY close all week, as reported. Yes, there was a late threat from Barcelona, but as I also kept reporting, they didn’t even make the offer so the ‘threat’ was just being built up by whispers. They were interest in Kounde yes, but Chelsea sources had always told me the club were and are confident of the signing.

So what has Law said?

“Jules Kounde is set to become Chelsea’s third summer signing in a deal that could allow captain Cesar Azpilicueta to join Barcelona.

“Chelsea look to have beaten off competition from Barca for Kounde. They have agreed to pay Sevilla in the region of £55 million and have offered the defender a five-year contract.

“Tuchel is still ideally hoping to sign a third defender this summer, with Paris St-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe a target, and Kounde’s move could give Azpilicueta the green light to return to Spain with Barcelona.

“Azpilicueta is keen to leave Chelsea this summer, with Barca willing to give him a two-year contract.

“Tuchel and Chelsea had told the 32-year-old that he must wait to find out if the club could land their targets before making a firm decision on his future.” - Matt Law, The Telegraph.

As I’ve also reported on here this week, the Kounde move is likely to allow Azpilicueta to complete his move to Barcelona.

It’s not a DONE DEAL in terms of officially being confirmed by any club yet, but I expect that to come soon. And I also expect your David Ornstein’s etc to now follow that report up with deal being agreed, and I am sure any moment now we will get Fabrizio Romano’s ‘here we go’.

Yesterday was hugely frustrating, and even I found it hard to stay positive on the deal at times, but I hope I managed to do enough to keep reassuring you all that it will get done. Because I was told days ago of the agreements for the fee and personal terms, and for me in my head, and based on what my sources had continued to tell me, this was never really in doubt.

Simon Phillips