Sevilla star Ivan Rakitic has commented on Jules Kounde's future after Chelsea agreed a £55million fee with the La Liga outfit to sign the French defender.
football.london understands Chelsea remain extremely confident of securing a deal for long-term transfer target Kounde this summer, despite competition from Barcelona. The Blues agreed personal terms months ago with the 23-year-old and have verbally agreed a fee of £55million for the France international.
Reports in Spain on Saturday morning suggested that Barcelona had agreed a deal in principle with Sevilla as well, with Chelsea facing a similar situation to that they went through with Raphinha before the Brazilian opted to move to Camp Nou over Stamford Bridge. football.london understands Sevilla are denying any agreement with Barcelona regarding the sale of Kounde, whilst his teammate Ivan Rakitic has given an insight into how the Frenchman's teammates feel about the ongoing transfer saga.
READ MORE: Barcelona agree Jules Kounde fee as Chelsea face Raphinha transfer repeat amid £51m move
Speaking to Mediaset and El Desmarque, Rakitic commented on Kounde's future and the atmosphere within the Sevilla camp at the moment. The Croatian said: “We talked to him to give him a sense of normality. He needs some nonsense from us.
“We are grateful that he wanted to join us [in Portugal], we all know what his situation is like, we don’t have to be very clever, so we have to give him all our love."
Sevilla were stunned when the 23-year-old reported for training with the squad in Lagos with a move to Stamford Bridge seemingly close to being completed. Barcelona remain interested in the French defender and reports claim the Catalan club believes Kounde wants a move to Camp Nou over Chelsea, but Rakitic isn't worried about the ongoing transfer saga.
“It’s simple… if he stays, great, and if he doesn’t, someone else will come. There is no problem at all," the 34-year-old continued.
“We handle him [Kounde] with a lot of affection, no problem, and the days he is here he knows that we love him very much. It’s normal that we can’t compete with the same strength as the Premier League or teams that have that strength in their pockets."
Sevilla are set to lose both starting centre-backs this summer after Diego Carlos signed for Aston Villa earlier in the summer transfer window. The La Liga outfit are in need of more funds to reinvest in the squad, having already signed Marcao from Galatasaray to replace the Brazilian in their defence.
“Understand that, there is no problem at all. You have to understand that Sevilla have always been like that.”
Chelsea have signed Kalidou Koulibaly following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to La Liga this summer, joining Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta have also been linked with moves to Barca, whilst football.london understands the Blues remain in talks to sign Presnel Kimpembe with Thomas Tuchel wanting to add at least one more defender to his squad ahead of next season.
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