In a recent report, Gianluca Dimarzio stated that Chelsea have switched their attention to Sevilla defender Jules Kounde this summer. It is believed that the Blues could face competition in the form of Barcelona for the French centre-back.
Kounde’s Decent Run Of Form In Spanish Football
Kounde experienced a solid campaign at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium as he produced a series of dominant defensive displays at the centre of Sevilla’s backline. The 23-year-old participated in 44 matches for the Andalusian outfit last season, finding the back of the net three times while earning one assist on all fronts.
The French talent was a rock at the back as he managed to average 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 3.1 clearances per 90 minutes in La Liga. He was even excellent when distributing the ball from inside his half after completing 88.9% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Will Kounde Add To Thomas Tuchel’s Team?
Kounde can time his tackles well to earn the ball back for his team on the defensive end of the field. He is usually quick to spot the danger and can clear his lines when the opposition are on the front foot. Kounde is primarily a central defender but can even serve as a right-back if his manager tells him to do so.
The French defensive ace is also proficient at playing his way out from the back and can put his body on the line to make a few important blocks. Hence, he could prove to be a good fit for Thomas Tuchel‘s style of play at Stamford Bridge.
At 23, Kounde will only improve with each season, so the Blues would do well to get him on board during this summer transfer window. We can expect the Sevilla star to add more quality and depth to Chelsea’s defence in the coming seasons.
Kounde has got the experience to be a success story at the West London club as long as he can cope with the physical nature of Premier League football. He could even help the Blues challenge for even more major trophies over the next decade.
