Chelsea handed Kounde boost as transfer merry-go-round impacts Barcelona

Chelsea are growing increasingly confident of beating Barcelona to the signing of central defender Jules Kounde from Sevilla.

The two clubs are locked in a battle to land the highly-rated French international but the Blues are now favourite to sign the defender after completing the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. The West London club landed the Senegalese star after striking a £33.8million (€40m) deal for the 31-year-old. Chelsea have also signed Raheem Sterling from Manchester City in a £50million transfer.

There is set to be a new-look Chelsea defender this summer after Barca confirmed the arrival into their first-team squad of Andreas Christensen following the expiration of his contract at Stamford Bridge as Antonio Rudiger joined Real Madrid as a free agent after his contract at Stamford Bridge expired.

Having already signed one defender from the Blues, they are hopeful of raiding Stamford Bridge for defensive duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso. Both players have been earmarked by Xavi to form part of his new-look defence, while they are also hopeful of beating Chelsea to the signature of in-demand Sevilla defender Kounde.

The Catalan giants have completed deals to sign Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, with Kounde the next big objective of their high-spending summer. Yet that is at odds with their interest in Alonso and Azpilicueta, who will demand first-team football if they are to leave the Blues.

Reports from the Spanish press have now amplified Mirror Football's understanding that the Blues remain in the box seat to sign Kounde, despite Barca boss Xavi's attempts to persuade the former Bordeaux defender to have a change in heart and instead join him at the Camp Nou.

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As things stand, Barca remain confident in their chances of landing both Alonso and Azpilicueta - meaning that four starting defenders will have departed Thomas Tuchel's defence this summer. The Blues remain hopeful of a deal for Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe, but Kounde has been their long-term number one objective.

Sevilla, for their part, are keen for the sale of Kounde to be processed as soon as possible to allow them to reinvest in the squad. The Andalusian club have already lost central defender Diego Carlos to Aston Villa this summer, while Marcao has been signed from Galatasaray.

The club need to continue to raise funds this summer to redress their financial situation and they are aware that Kounde wants to depart this year having been denied an exit 12 months ago. The player is agreed to have verbally agreed to join Chelsea.