Chelsea could have handed Arsenal a major blow in the summer transfer window by completing the signing of Jules Kounde. The 23-year-old defender was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer but opted for Camp Nou instead.
football.london understood that the Blues were 'extremely confident' of signing Kounde as part of a £68million deal, with Barcelona up against outstanding debt. But, after a number of economic levers were pulled and sales were made, the Spanish giants gathered together some cash and beat the west Londoners to the France international's signature.
But, according to Fabrizio Romano, if Chelsea had completed a move for Kounde, then Xavi's side would have set their sights on William Saliba. The report states that the Arsenal star was Barcelona's priority in the event that they surrendered the defender's signature to the Blues.
