Chelsea are on the verge of signing French defensive stalwart Jules Kounde from Sevilla this summer, but how does his form fare on the pitch, and what is his style of play?
With Erling Haaland still at the top of Chelsea's wishlist, the Blues' attentions have turned to luring Kounde to Stamford Bridge, too.
The 22-year-old centre-back has also attracted interest from Manchester City and Manchester United, but it is Chelsea that are said to be the frontrunners in landing his sought-after signature.
That's according to transfer guru Fabrizo Ramano, anyway, who claims Chelsea are in "opened official talks" with Chelsea.
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"Chelsea have opened official talks with Sevilla for Jules Kounde," he tweeted on Tuesday, before claiming that Kurt Zouma could be used as lightweight in the deal.
Romano claims Kounde desire to join Chelsea is because he wants to play Champions League football next season.
He also revealed that a five-year contract and personal terms have been agreed with Kounde until 2026 and talks between the clubs are now thought to have moved on to negotiating the exact transfer fee.
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The 22-year-old centre-back moved to the Spanish club two years ago and has gone on to establish himself as one of the most promising defenders in Europe.
He helped Sevilla qualify for the Champions League last season and was part of France's Euro 2020 squad this summer.
Here, we take a deep dive into Kounde's position, style of play, as well as his strengths and weaknesses.
Joules Kounde position
The next name in France's list of elite centre-backs is Jules Kounde.
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Kounde is one of the most prominent defensive players this season in the La Liga this season and it comes as no surprise, too.
A versatile performer, Kounde can line up at right-back if needed, as well as his usual position at the heart of the defence.
The 22-year-old has since cemented himself as a regular starter in Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla, who favours a 4-3-3 system during the team's defensive play.
Joules Kounde style of play
Jules Kounde is a new-era defender that prefers to delay his actions in order to force his opponents into making mistakes by closing down the angles.
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On the face of it, Kounde is a low volume defender who doesn't lunge into tackles very often, often letting the play come to him.
One of his best attributes is his incredible jumping and heading ability - despite standing at just 5ft 8 tall.
Not only is he able to sniff out opponents and come out on top in aerial duels, he has a knack of winning them even against the tallest of forwards.
Jules Kounde weaknesses
Jules Kounde is a fantastic defender and has a serious future ahead of him, especially having been linked to major clubs across Europe - but some things must be taken into account.
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Both in his defensive style and tactical awareness, the 22-year-old has distinguished himself as a rising talent in the La Liga over the past couple of years.
But despite being proficient in almost every defensive aspect, he does lack some experience at a high level, especially when it comes to playing for his country - having made just two appearances.
As a result of that, it begs the question whether or not a big-money move to the Premier League might be a step-up too soon for the young defender.
Topics: Chelsea, Jules Kounde, Transfers, Premier League, Sevilla
