Chelsea could face stiff competition in their bid to sign Jules Kounde in the January transfer window.
This summer, the Blues underwent a significant squad overhaul under new manager Xabi Alonso, adding players like Emiliano Martinez, Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson, and Danny Welbeck.
However, their season start has been rocky. After securing victories against Fulham and Brighton, they suffered defeats to Arsenal and Brentford, and dropped points against Hull City. Alonso is now on the hunt for reinforcements to enhance his tactical setup.
The primary target for Chelsea is a right-back, and there are growing concerns about Malo Gusto's future at Stamford Bridge.
According to TEAMtalk, Xabi Alonso has specifically requested the signing of Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, having learned that the Frenchman is available for transfer.
Chelsea have had their eye on the 27-year-old player for some time, competing for his signature before he moved to Barcelona from Sevilla in 2022. Kounde's versatility is especially appealing to the London side, as he can play both centrally and at left-back.
Under Hansi Flick, Kounde's situation at Barcelona has deteriorated, with the coach preferring to field Eric Garcia and Joao Cancelo instead. This season, the Frenchman has only started once in La Liga. Barcelona have already informed his representatives about a potential sale in 2027.
Kounde himself remains keen on a move to Chelsea. However, the Blues will have to contend with fierce competition, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich also keeping tabs on the situation. There’s even interest from Saudi Arabia, but the player is determined to stay in Europe.
