Recently, it was said that Tottenham led the race to sign Jules Kounde, with Newcastle and Barcelona also interested in the Sevilla star.
Eddie Howe was supposedly trying to tempt the Frenchman to join the Magpies, with Paris Saint-Germain also keen to sign the 23-year-old defender.
Now, however, there has been a twist in the saga.
What’s the story?
Well, Barcelona seem to have leapfrogged everyone in this transfer battle, as they have now agreed a four-year contract with Kounde ahead of a €55m (£47m) deal.
That is according to the reliable Gerard Romero, who rarely misinforms when it comes to Barcelona.
Speaking on Twitch, the journalist claimed that Xavi has managed to convince Kounde to join him at the Camp Nou, after successfully managing to lure Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski to Catalonia.
Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have also been signed.
Now, this update will come as a blow to Antonio Conte, who was presumably confident about signing Kounde with Spurs leading the race.
Chelsea will also be upset, as they had turned their attention to the Frenchman after seeing a deal for Nathan Ake fall through.
Tottenham & Newcastle lose a gem to Barcelona
In our view, Conte and Howe will be devastated about losing Kounde to Barcelona – should the deal materialise.
The Paris-born centre-back is one of the best defenders in Europe, and at the age of just 23, he could develop into one of the best to have played the game.
Kounde has been described as a “total footballer” in the past – he is not just a traditional defender, but also someone who seems ideal for the modern game, in which technique and bravery to pass out from the back are required.
Given their financial issues, we’re not quite sure how Barcelona will afford Kounde after spending significant fees on Raphinha and Lewandowski, although it seems like the deal is set to go through.
Now, it’s time for Tottenham and Newcastle to explore alternative options.
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