Chelsea are reportedly willing to activate Jules Kounde’s €80m (£66m) release clause, with Tottenham also interested in the Sevilla defender.
According to Sport, the Blues have been chasing the French international for well over a year, and with as many as three defenders potentially leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer, Chelsea are eager to secure Kounde’s signature at all costs.
With a £66m release clause and Sevilla unlikely to meet Chelsea at a lower fee, Thomas Tuchel’s side are looking more likely than ever to pay the full fee for Kounde, who remains a target for Tottenham heading into the summer window.
Super Deporte report that Tottenham are in the conversation to sign the 23-year-old centre-back. However, this latest update regarding Chelsea could blow Antonio Conte’s side out of the race for Kounde, who could also favour a move to the European champions.
Reports last summer suggested that Kounde was not sold on transferring to Tottenham, and with Chelsea now the firm-favourites to sign the La Liga star, Spurs could move on from the former Bordeaux defender.
Indeed, centre-back is a problem area for Tottenham and one that will need to be improved on in the summer, and with Kounde now seemingly out of the equation, Spurs need to identify another target ahead of the off-season.
Chelsea’s efforts to sign Kounde should be a warning for Tottenham
With the Blues stepping up efforts to sign Kounde in a big way, Tottenham now find themselves in a position where a London rival could be about to sign a major club target, and Conte’s side should be on the hunt for alternative defenders.
Whilst the summer is some months away, being prepared with a list of targets will be crucial for Tottenham if they are to truly improve the squad, and Chelsea’s motive to sign Kounde should push the north London side in the right direction.
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