Chelsea could reignite interest in defender available for £55m

Chelsea face a number of London derbies in the opening weeks of the new Premier League season. 

The Blues open their campaign with a short trip to face neighbours Fulham, before games against Arsenal and Brentford in the first month of the campaign.

The west London outfit will have Xabi Alonso in the dugout at the start of the new campaign, following the Spaniard’s appointment as Chelsea’s new manager.

Alonso succeeds Liam Rosenior, who was sacked after just four months in charge following a dismal run of form.

Ahead of the new campaign, it is emerging that one of Chelsea’s previous transfer targets could be available at a cut price.

As per CaughtOffside, Barcelona could be willing to allow defender Jules Kounde to leave the club for a fee of around £55 million this summer.

Kounde could leave Barcelona this summer (Photo: Alamy)

The report claims that the Frenchman – who has previously been on the radar of both Chelsea and Liverpool – will be allowed to leave Barcelona if a suitable offer is made.

Kounde joined Barcelona from fellow Spanish side Sevilla back in 2022, but had been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge prior to that transfer.

Since arriving in Catalonia, the France international has made more than 180 appearances for the La Liga club in all competitions, as well as winning seven trophies including three La Liga titles.

Kounde’s contract with Barcelona is set to run until the end of the 2029/30 season, but the report claims that Barcelona have been sounding out clubs that previously showed interest in the player, including both the Reds and the Blues.

While Barcelona’s financial situation has eased somewhat in recent years, the La Liga outfit are said to still be looking to offload players in order to ensure that adhere to Financial Fair Play restrictions.