Sevilla boss Lopetegui explains why Chelsea failed to sign Kounde

Despite strong interest from Chelsea this summer, Jules Kounde has ended up staying at Sevilla for the time being at least.

Julen Lopetegui claims Chelsea failed to sign Jules Kounde as they didn’t meet Sevilla’s valuation of the defender.

After Romelu Lukaku returned in a club-record €115 million deal, Chelsea turned their full focus to Kounde. Thomas Tuchel wanted a new right-sided defender and felt he fitted the bill. Talks resumed between the Blues and Sevilla last month after initial contact earlier in the summer, although ended unsuccessfully.

You know the price of everything but the value of nothing #CLB

— Jules Kounde (@jkeey4) September 3, 2021

Sevilla’s director of football, Monchi, confirmed last week that Chelsea made an offer. However, it fell short of the Spanish club’s asking price. Sevilla sent a counter-offer instead but never heard back from the European champions.

“Kounde in the end has stayed because the club has decided that it was the right thing to do based on the evaluation of the offers they may have had,” Lopetegui told Diario de Sevilla.

“For me, as a coach, that Jules stays is positive. With the evolution he has had in these two years, it is positive, without any doubt.

“We trust that he’ll continue to grow with us and, above all, perform, which is the most important thing.”

With Kounde still at Sevilla, as well Kurt Zouma joining West Ham last month, Trevoh Chalobah could become a regular presence in the Chelsea defense this season.