In a recent print edition, ABC Sevilla offered an update on Chelsea‘s pursuit of Sevilla defender Jules Kounde this summer. It is believed that the Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is pushing hard to land the French centre-back before the transfer deadline at the end of this month (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Kounde’s Excellent Form In Spanish Football
Kounde had an outstanding campaign in Spanish football as he continued to be a dominant presence at the heart of Sevilla’s backline. The Paris-born central defender found the back of the net on four occasions and provided one assist in 49 appearances for the Spanish outfit last season in all competitions.
The 22-year-old proved his worth as a reliable presence on the defensive end of the field based on his average of 0.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.9 clearances, 0.6 shots and 0.9 dribbles per game in La Liga. He was even excellent when distributing possession from the back after making 90.1% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Spanish football (stats via whoscored).
Kounde is currently under contract at Sevilla until the summer of 2024, so it would take a big offer for Chelsea to acquire his services in this off-season. At 22, he has a very bright future in European football which makes him a great choice for the Blues ahead of the new campaign.
Will Kounde Be A Good Option For The Blues?
Kounde is a solid defender inside his half as he can time his tackles well to secure possession back for his team. He can read the danger quickly and doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when the opposition are looking to threaten on the counter.
The French youngster enjoys playing his way out from the back and hardly loses the ball when passing it to his teammates. Hence, a centre-back of his skill set will be a good addition to Tuchel’s match-day squad during this summer transfer period.
Kounde has what it takes to secure a regular starting spot at the West London club and could serve as an ideal long-term replacement for Thiago Silva. The two-time France international could go on to form a solid defensive partnership with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen at Stamford Bridge in the years to come. With all things considered, Kounde will be a brilliant option for the London outfit as he will enhance the quality of Tuchel’s first-team considerably in this off-season.
