BARCA HIJACK CHELSEA KOUNDE BID

BARCELONA are growing in confidence that they will beat Chelsea to the signing of Jules Kounde from Sevilla. Chelsea were hopeful of landing French centre back Kounde for around £55million to add to £34m arrival Kalidou Koulibaly, as they target defenders after losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers this summer. However, Barcelona have made their move and are pushing to pip Chelsea to Kounde’s signature. The Spanish club temporarily had Kounde’s shirt for sale on their website yesterday. Barca pulled off a similar trick to hijack Chelsea’s move to sign Raphinha from Leeds, after the Blues had agreed a fee for the Brazilian. Chelsea came close to signing Kounde, 23, last summer and earlier in this window there was a strong belief in Spain that a move to Stamford Bridge was inevitable once the Todd Boehly takeover was completed. However, Chelsea moved for Koulibaly and made attempts for other centre backs Matthijs de Ligt, who instead joined Bayern Munich, and Nathan Ake, who is staying at Manchester City, before returning to Kounde. They are now prepared to walk away from Kounde if the saga drags on. Their other defensive targets include Paris SaintGermain’s Presnel Kimpembe, Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.