FC Barcelona on the verge of hijacking yet another Chelsea as they reach an agreement with Sevilla defender Jules Kounde

FC Barcelona on the verge of hijacking yet another Chelsea as they reach an agreement with Sevilla defender Jules Kounde

After being approached by Premier League powerhouse Chelsea, FC Barcelona and Sevilla have agreed on a deal in principle for their defender Jules Kounde.

With a bid of £55 million ($66 million), Chelsea was reportedly the team with the best chance of getting the France international center back. Barca president Joan Laporta even admitted defeat in his pursuit of the player.

When he arrived in Las Vegas for Sunday’s El Clasico match versus Real Madrid, a fan asked him if the club would send the 23-year-old. He replied that it was not going to happen.

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Laporta said, “No, not Kounde. He’s been signed by Chelsea.”

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Jules Kounde to FC Barcelona?

However, on Friday night, rumors started to circulate that Barca would give Kounde one final try. And now, Saturday morning has seen the Catalans and the Andalusians strike a deal in principle for Kounde with the operation “99 percent done,” according to Barca analyst Gerard Romero.

Romero promised that the Sevilla defender would be a Culer “barring a calamity in the next few hours.”

When Kounde arrives at Camp Nou, it will also likely put a stop to rumors that Xavi Hernandez’s team is interested in Inigo Martinez. These rumors started to circulate in the past day when it appeared that Kounde was headed to Stamford Bridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRZHGwNG2Wg

However, if Barca succeeds in the Kounde coup, it won’t be the first time they have outsmarted Chelsea in the transfer window. Raphinha, a Brazilian winger who plays for Leeds United, appeared to be moving to west London last week when a similar £55 million ($66 million) deal was made for him.

Raphinha, like Kounde, preferred to wait until Barca approached him, but like Kounde, he ultimately chose a dream transfer that allowed him to make his Blaugrana debut and score in a 6-0 thrashing of Inter Miami midweek.

If the Kounde deal is finalized this weekend, he may also go to the United States for the last two preseason games, versus Juventus in Dallas and the New York Red Bulls on the east coast.

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