FC Barcelona Reach Kounde Transfer Agreement With Sevilla And Hijack Chelsea Deal

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Sevilla for their defender Jules Kounde, in turn hijacking an approach from PremierPINC
League giants Chelsea.

Chelsea were said to be closest to landing the France international through their offer of £55mn ($66mn), with Barca president Joan Laporta even admitting defeat in pursuit of the center back.

Landing in Las Vegas for Sunday’s installment of El Clasico against Real Madrid, he was asked by a fan if the club were going to deliver the 23-year-old and had bad news.

“No, not Kounde,” Laporta said. “Chelsea have signed him.”

On Friday night, however, reports began to emerge that Barca were going to take one last roll of the dice on the youngster.

And now, according to Barca expert Gerard Romero, Saturday morning has seen the Catalans and the Andalusians reach an agreement in principle for Kounde with the operation “99% closed”.

“Except for a cataclysm in the next few hours, the Sevilla defender will be a Culer,” Romero guaranteed.

Kounde rolling up at Camp Nou would also likely end supposed interest that Xavi Hernandez’s men have in Inigo Martinez, news of which began to emerge in the last 24 hours when it seemed as though Kounde’s next destination would be Stamford Bridge.

If Barca manage to pull off the Kounde coup, however, it will be just the latest time they have managed to get one over on Chelsea in the transfer market.

Last week, it seemed as though Brazil winger Raphinha might also be headed south from Leeds United to west London after a similar £55mn ($66mn) bid was put in for him.

Just like with Kounde, however, Raphinha decided to hold out until Barca made an approach for him and in the end opted for a dream move that has already allowed him to make his debut in Blaugrana and get on the scoresheet in a 6-0 rout of Inter Miami midweek.

Should the Kounde deal be tied up over the weekend, he too could head Stateside for the remaining two fixtures of the preseason tour against Juventus in Dallas and the New York Red Bulls on the east coast.