Chelsea is reportedly in danger of being outbid by Sevilla for the signing of Jules Kounde.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the club is facing a bid from Newcastle United that would break their club record transfer fee.
The Blues missed out on the Frenchman late last summer, so the move was widely anticipated.
Rumors of the defender joining Chelsea have persisted, with some claiming a deal could be completed by the end of the month.
This is despite Kounde suffering an injury while on international duty that necessitates surgery, though it is speculated that this was a routine procedure.
Despite all of this interest, Newcastle appears eager to spoil the party with their own late bid.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Eddie Howe’s side is also willing to match the France international’s release clause of around £78 million.
The Toon are looking for transfers with the same impact as Bruno Guimares and Kieran Trippier to continue their outstanding start to their rebuild under new ownership.
If reports of competition for Kounde’s signature are true, Chelsea must make a statement by completing this transaction.
Taking reputation into account, it is not a good look for a signing that has been anticipated for nearly a year to slip through the clubs’ fingers at the last minute. In fact, it would be the worst possible start for Todd Boehly, the new owner. The good news is that there doesn’t appear to be any reason to panic just yet, but these latest reports may just push Chelsea even further ahead in their pursuit.
On the field, Thomas Tuchel’s team is in desperate need of a center-back. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already left, and Cesar Azpilicueta is rumored to be close behind. If the Blues are to build on last season’s foundation, they must address the issue as soon as possible.
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