Chelsea director of football Marina Granovskaia has been told that a bid of £65million will be enough to persuade Sevilla to agree to the transfer of centre-back Jules Kounde this summer.
It would give the highly-rated club official the chance to give Thomas Tuchel a parting gift with her departure set for the end of the summer window. The reign of Todd Boehly's consortium has begun and he confirmed his new board of directors in a statement on Wednesday, although Granovskaia's permanent replacement is yet to be decided.
Kounde has been a target of Chelsea's for over a year now with the Blues coming close to agreeing a transfer in the summer of 2021, only for Sevilla to change their demands late in the day. But journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that a bid of £65 million would be accepted despite it being below their asking price.
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"It's a particular situation. For Kounde, we have to mention that he's been in the interest of Chelsea for a long time," Di Marzio said in an interview with wettfreunde. "The price for Joules Kounde, even if they are close, is €80million (£68million) as it is. Sevilla should be willing to accept £65m. So whoever wants Jules Kounde will have to pay £65million.
"Chelsea knows this message and so does Barcelona now. Barcelona will try to include some players in the negotiations. But let's see what Chelsea decides, because Chelsea will sign two centre-backs this summer, and Kounde is still one of the names on the list, together with Nathan Ake from City, who is another player they really appreciate.
"Chelsea has been in contact with the agents of Kounde for the entire year. They have always been in contact and have had good conversations and discussions on the salary.
"Now there is a new board (in Chelsea). Marina Granovskaia is no longer taking care of the negotiations of Chelsea, of course, she's still helping during this transfer window, but Todd Boehly is doing it directly."
"Barcelona's market is always so slow. This is not new. Every window we see the Barcelona board on the deadline day trying to complete some deals. This is nothing new. It's the financial situation. Kounde is a target at centre-back together with (Kalidou) Koulibaly. But it depends on the price."
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