Chelsea have once again expressed interest in Jules Kounde, who has found himself outside the starting XI at Barcelona this season. The French defender’s situation is also being closely watched by Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
Kounde was a key player for Barcelona following his move to the club in 2022, but under Hansi Flick, his role has diminished substantially. This season, he has only started once in La Liga and has remained on the bench for the last three league matches.
Flick has recently opted for Joao Cancelo and Eric Garcia at right-back, raising questions about Kounde's future as transfer speculation emerges once more.
According to SPORT, Chelsea and Arsenal are the clubs most actively keeping tabs on Kounde. However, Barcelona have yet to receive any formal offers and currently do not plan to sell the 27-year-old.
This scenario could change if Kounde fails to regain his place in the first team. Reports suggest that he may start to contemplate a move if opportunities remain scarce, which could significantly impact Barcelona's standing in 2027.
Chelsea are particularly attracted to Kounde's versatility; he can play both as a right-back and a central defender, making him a good fit for Xabi Alonso's system that utilises three players at the back.
However, any potential transfer would add competition for Josh Achiampong. The 20-year-old defender has been getting game time under Alonso and is considered one of the club's most promising talents in his position.
