Barcelona are ‘convinced they will win the race for Jules Kounde this summer’ despite competition from Manchester City as they ‘prepare to offer two players in a potential swap deal for the Sevilla defender’
- Barcelona are growing in confidence over a move for Sevilla’s Jules Koundé
- The French defender has a number of admirers including Chelsea and Man City
- Xavi’s side are willing to offer two youngsters in exchange for the centre-back
- Chelsea had been frontrunners before turning their attention to Nathan Ake
Barcelona are reportedly convinced they will seal the signing of Sevilla defender Jules Koundé in the near future.
The Frenchman has had a number of admirers this summer, with the Catalan side and Premier League giants Manchester City leading the race for his signature.
However, Xavi’s side look most likely to strike an agreement with their league rivals – as they are prepared to offer two players into any deal for the 23-year-old.
Sevilla defender Jules Koundé is growing closer to a move to Spanish league rivals Barcelona
According to SPORT, the Catalan giants are preparing to make an official bid for Koundé and are willing to include winger Abdessamad ‘Abde’ Ezzalzouli and midfielder Nico Gonzalez into that deal.
The two players have been deemed surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp after their recent spending spree and could now be used to bring Kounde’s price down.
Sevilla were holding out for a fee in the region of £52-56million for the French international, which is a figure that Barcelona are not willing to meet through cash upfront.
Memphis Depay had been offered to the club earlier in the week, but his cost is too high for Sevilla and the player is not interested in a move to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.
20-year-old midfielder Nico Gonzalez could be included in Barca’s rumoured deal for Kounde
Abdessamad ‘Abde’ Ezzalzouli could also be part of any deal that is struck for the Frenchman
Chelsea too have held long-term ambitions to sign Kounde, and even had an agreement in principle last summer, before they hit a stumbling block in negotiations with Sevilla over the fee.
The Blues have been strongly linked with a move for the centre-half, especially after seeing Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger depart on free transfers to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively this summer.
Despite continuing to keep tabs on the Sevilla ace, Chelsea have appeared to turn their attention elsewhere with Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt on the club’s radar, but it is their pursuit of Nathan Ake which could pave the way for City to enter the race for Kounde.
Chelsea were in pursuit of Frenchman Kounde before turning attention to Nathan Ake
