Chelsea ready to go all-in on Barcelona defensive mainstay amid renewal negotiations | OneFootball

Back in 2022, when Barcelona signed Jules Kounde from Sevilla, they beat Premier League giants Chelsea in the race for the French defender.

Since then, the 26-year-old has been a permanent fixture in the Barcelona starting lineup, consolidating his position as the first-choice right-back over the past year and a half.

Kounde has grown into one of the ‘untouchables’ for Hansi Flick, having featured in every single game this season and emerging as one of the best right-backs in Europe.

Chelsea want Kounde again

Now, according to SPORT, Chelsea are gearing up for another high-spending summer, with Jules Kounde as their top target.

The London club have made the French defender their priority signing, even ahead of Dean Huijsen, as they look to strengthen their backline with a player who can operate as both a centre-back and right-back.

Back on Chelsea’s radar. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

The Blues missed out on Kounde in 2022, but are determined not to fall short this time. Barça are well aware of the interest and are already working on extending the 26-year-old’s contract, which currently runs until 2026.

A move to Chelsea would allow Kounde to return to his preferred role at centre-back while the Premier League would also offer him a lucrative contract with a much bigger salary. However, Kounde is content in Barcelona and intends to stay long-term.

Deco, Barça’s sporting director, is aware that a lucrative offer from Chelsea could arrive. But with two years left on his contract after this summer and a €1 billion release clause, the Catalans hold the upper hand for now.

As mentioned earlier, Barcelona are already in talks with Kounde about extending his contract, even prioritizing him over Raphinha, whose renewal is also on the table.