In a recent report, Sport claimed that Chelsea are willing to move in for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde. It has been mentioned that the Blues are eyeing a move to secure the services of the France international this summer.
Kounde’s Decent Run Of Form At Barcelona
Kounde has proven himself to be a capable right-back at the Nou Camp and has been responsible for producing a string of solid performances on the right side of Barca’s backline. The 24-year-old has scored one goal and grabbed six assists in 38 matches for the Catalan club this season in all competitions
The French sensation has been a positive influence at both ends of the field based on his average of 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 2.0 clearances, 0.5 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. He has even been careful when distributing the ball from the right flank, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 88.3% in the top tier of Spanish football (stats via whoscored).
Kounde is under contract at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2027. Hence, it won’t be easy for the Blues to sign him on the cheap in this off-season.
Is Kounde A Decent Option For Chelsea?
Kounde is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. The French talent is usually quick to spot the danger and doesn’t mind clearing his lines when needed. He excels at playing his way out from the back and can create some inviting chances for others around him in the opponent’s half.
We can expect Kounde to bring more bite and steel to Chelsea‘s defence and could serve as an ideal replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta who has entered the twilight years of his playing career at Stamford Bridge.
At 24, the future is quite bright for Kounde, so the Blues would be wise to get him on board during this summer transfer window. He has what it takes to help the West London club compete for some major trophies in the coming years which makes him a good option for Chelsea to pursue ahead of the new campaign.
