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Chelsea see off Barcelona in race for French international Jules Koundé

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3 years ago

5:36 am

Chelsea see off Barcelona in race for French international Jules Koundé

Thomas Tuchel will sleep that significantly better tonight understanding that his tactical reshuffle continues to come back off this summer time with Chelsea on the doorstep of a accomplished deal for French worldwide defender Jules Koundé.

Per reports from The Telegraph’s Matt Law, Koundé will turn out to be the third signing of the summer time for Chelsea after the big-money arrivals of England star Raheem Sterling and Senegalese worldwide stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly.

Kounde set to turn out to be Chelsea’s third summer time signing in a deal that would give Azpilicueta the inexperienced gentle to go #cfc https://t.co/p0ppITuXHc
— Matt Regulation (@Matt_Law_DT) July 22, 2022

Extra importantly, Koundé doubtless rounds out the defensive reshuffle undertaken by the Stamford Bridge outfit throughout the switch window after the Blues misplaced each Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen to free transfers to Actual Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

The £56m move for the 23-year-old Frenchman would catapult the Blues’ summer time spending to £136m throughout their three main signings, with Koundé signing on for an preliminary 5 years in west London.

With Chelsea set to persist in a back-three deployment beneath Tuchel, the necessity to change Rüdiger and Christensen was paramount to the membership’s switch plans this summer time.

Chelsea beat out Barcelona in transfer battle to French defender Jules Koundé

STADIO OLIMPICO GRANDE TORINO, TURIN, ITALY – 2022/05/07: Kalidou Koulibaly (L) of SSC Napoli is challenged by Andrea Belotti of Torino FC throughout the Serie A soccer match between Torino FC and SSC Napoli. SSC Napoli received 1-0 over Torino FC. (Picture by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket by way of Getty Photographs)

Koulibaly and Koundé are prone to line up subsequent to Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva within the upcoming 2022-23 Premier League marketing campaign, with the membership nonetheless – at present – sustaining the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Malang Sarr, and Ethan Ampadu on their books, although a number of may very well be jettisoned and offered earlier than the window closes.

Chelsea is also set to lose one other defender, nonetheless, with the deal for Koundé probably opening the door for Barcelona to safe a deal for Spanish veteran presence César Azpilicueta, per their long-standing curiosity this summer time.

New proprietor Todd Boehly has already made headway in his efforts to produce Tuchel with the names and faces doubtlessly required for Chelsea to push each Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool for Premier League honors this season on the earliest comfort, with the Blues nonetheless hopeful of constructing a play for Dutch worldwide star Frenkie de Jong.

Ought to Azpilicueta transfer to Catalunya, Chelsea may additionally make a severe play for Bayern Munich and French worldwide defender Benjamin Pavard (see extra within the hyperlinks under), who may effectively be strolling out of the Allianz Enviornment with curiosity from 4 European giants.

Given the intent proven by the Pensioners this summer time, there may very well be a severe third participant within the Premier League title race this season.

For extra on Chelsea, learn under

Chelsea ahead Romelu Lukaku placed on food regimen upon Inter Milan return

Benjamin Pavard topic of a four-way switch battle, with Chelsea and Man United within the combine

Chelsea miss out on Jonathan Clauss after French worldwide confirms Marseille change

This text was edited by
Conor Laird.