Chelsea renew interest in Jules Kounde ahead of winter window
The London club is monitoring the Barcelona defender and may attempt a January move.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Chelsea have reportedly revived their interest in Barcelona defender Jules Kounde and could make a move during the upcoming January transfer window.
The 27-year-old French international has returned to the club's radar amidst a reduction in his playing time at the Catalan side. According to reports, Kounde has started only two of Barcelona’s eight official matches this season, remaining on the bench for the other six. Despite this, he is still widely regarded as one of Europe's top defensive options.
Chelsea’s interest is not new; the London side actively pursued Kounde in 2022 while he was still at Sevilla, though the defender ultimately chose to join Barcelona. While Bayern Munich have also been linked, Chelsea currently appear to be the most interested party.
The lack of consistent action is also affecting Kounde's status with the French national team. Under manager Zinedine Zidane, Kounde started only the opening game against Turkey, with Pierre Kalulu preferred for subsequent matches against Italy and Belgium. While the defender has not publicly requested an exit, Chelsea are prepared to formalize their interest if his secondary role at Barcelona persists.