Chelsea handed blow in signing Jules Kounde

Chelsea have been handed a potential blow in signing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde this summer.

The Frenchman has been one of the top defensive targets for the Blues, and they were unable to get a deal over the line last summer.

They have been touted to try again this time, but have been handed an early blow with Kounde set to undergo a hamstring surgery.

The centre-back has been playing with an underlying concern for months, and he will now go under the knife to sort out the problem.

It remains to be seen whether the Blues pursue his services. Sevilla want around €68 million to sanction his departure this summer.

Chelsea were reluctant to pay more than €55m last year, and may look to negotiate once again, citing the fitness of the central defender.

The Blues previously signed Ben Chilwell from Leicester City in 2020 when he was recovering from an injury. They could do a repeat with Kounde.