KEY POINTS

  • Jules Kounde is contracted with Sevilla until 2024
  • Sevilla have labeled Kounde with an asking price of $84 million
  • Even Chelsea are after 23-year-old Kounde

Sevilla are reportedly willing to accept Sergino Dest from FC Barcelona as a part of the deal for Jules Kounde.

Kounde has a contract with Sevilla until 2024 but has been linked with a move away in the 2022 summer. Keeping in mind Gerard Pique's abductor injury, Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez is keen on signing a center-back and Kounde has been one of their targets for some time now.

Sevilla have labeled their versatile defender with a transfer fee of around $84 million, according to Sports Illustrated. Considering Barcelona's financial crisis, the club cannot meet these hefty demands but the Catalans have come up with a solution.

Barcelona are looking to reduce the transfer fee by adding a few players to convert the deal into a player-plus-cash deal. The Camp Nou side are planning to send Sergino Dest and Clement Lenglet to the other side, in addition to paying a premium for the Frenchman. Sevilla are expected to accept this as they have been targeting Dest for quite some time, Mundo Deportivo reported.

Sevilla consider Dest an ideal replacement for the aging Jesus Navas. However, they may not be interested in signing Lenglet.

Meanwhile, Premier League club Chelsea have made signing Kounde their priority once Todd Boehly's takeover is complete and their sanctions end, reported Goal. The Blues wanted to land Kounde last summer itself but they failed to do so as Seville did not budge from their asking price. Chelsea had reportedly agreed to terms with the 23-year-old French defender.

Sergio Oliveira of Portugal battles for possession with Jules Kounde of France
Sergio Oliveira of Portugal battles for possession with Jules Kounde of France Getty Images | Alex Livesey - UEFA/UEFA

Chelsea are anyway set to lose a few of their key defenders at the end of the 2021-22 season. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen will leave for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively this summer.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been after Kounde for two years now, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Another Premier League club, Newcastle United, are also interested in Kounde, reported Barca Universal. However, it is still unknown if the player would be interested in moving to St. James' Park.

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