Chelsea ‘most likely’ among PL trio to land €65m star
Chelsea are the ‘most likely candidates’ to land Sevilla defender Jules Kounde this summer.
The France centre-back has been the subject of transfer speculation for some time, with Arsenal and Manchester United also linked with his signature.
But ABC Sevilla (via Sport Witness) claim Chelsea are at the front of the queue and are ‘studying their bid’ for the 22-year-old.
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Kounde is currently in Didier Deschamps’ squad at Euro 2020 and started against Portugal in their final group game on Wednesday.
It’s believed a deal can be done for around €65million, although Sevilla reportedly rejected a bid just short of that from Manchester City last summer.
Chelsea’s defence improved dramatically under Thomas Tuchel, with Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen all impressing at varioud points under the German boss.
The report claims Sevilla are currently not ‘aware of movement’ regarding Kounde, but would listen to offers if they were deemed appropriate.
Chelsea are also reportedly still keen on a move for West Ham’s Declan Rice.
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On The Football Terrace podcast, Eurosport’s Dean Jones revealed that Rice has his “eyes open” to leaving the Hammers.
Jones said: “Yes I spoke to someone over the weekend who knows Declan pretty well and I said to them: ‘Where’s his head at?’
“I’ve always been of the belief that Declan Rice just won’t leave West Ham right now.
“And he said ‘actually you’d be surprised, Rice is leaning towards being very open to leaving if the right offer comes along.
“So that’s interesting in itself. I think Declan Rice realises that this is a fantastic opportunity for him in the form he’s been in, breaking into the England starting XI.
“We often see players make moves when they’re at this point and they know that, in a year’s time, that opportunity could pass them by.
“People who work for Declan Rice have said in the past to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea that he’s willing to leave London if the right offer is there, the right terms, the right project.
“He’s got his eyes open, with regards to the future.
“I still think, personally, that Chelsea is the most likely place Declan Rice ends up.
“Because of the amount of salary he wants, because of the signing on fee he’d take and because of the price West Ham are going to want it’s a huge package to sign Declan Rice.”