{"id":6964,"date":"2026-10-06T10:15:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T10:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=6964"},"modified":"2026-10-06T10:15:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T10:15:50","slug":"why-chelsea-are-keen-on-jules-kounde-again-as-defender-hands-barcelona-ultimatum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=6964","title":{"rendered":"Why Chelsea are keen on Jules Kounde again as defender hands Barcelona ultimatum"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-387137\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Since BlueCo took over Chelsea, the club have not been able to go a day without being linked with Jules Kounde!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/club\/\">Chelsea<\/a> were interested in signing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/jules-kounde\/\">Kounde<\/a> from Sevilla in their first transfer window under former co-owner Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. However, the defender opted to join Barcelona instead.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<p>Since then, Kounde has continued to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. It is very reminiscent of the days when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/chelseas-interest-in-barcelona-star-will-give-fans-flashbacks-of-brazil-icon-hulk\/\">Chelsea were constantly linked with Brazil icon Hulk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chelsea-appreciate-jules-kounde-s-versatility\">Chelsea appreciate Jules Kounde\u2019s versatility<\/h2>\n<p>One reason why Chelsea seem to be such huge fans of Kounde is because he can play in more than one position. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sport.es\/es\/noticias\/barca\/cinco-grandes-premier-atentos-futuro-135005093\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sport<\/a>, the Blues really value his \u201cdefensive versatility\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>At this moment in time, it is perhaps not something that Hansi Flick appreciates as much. The same outlet claims that Kounde wants to feel important; otherwise, a transfer away from the Camp Nou could be possible.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"a7ff3fe3-a05c-423f-9e8c-99ae14865441\" data-story-name=\"Chelsea Transfers\" data-comment-id=\"c62f93da-b383-4598-b95f-c23af9e90378\" data-story-slug=\"chelsea-transfers\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Alex Scott and Lamine Camara are both exceptional talents, but who would improve Chelsea more and why?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-387046\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1-912x1140.jpg 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/long-form-two-player-comparison-1.jpg 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Kounde was a key player for Barcelona, but he has only made one start in La Liga this season. He was an unused substitute in all of the Catalan club\u2019s last three league games.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea signed Kounde\u2019s France teammate Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace during the summer, but he has not been able to improve the team defensively. No team have conceded more goals than Chelsea in the Premier League this term.<\/p>\n<p>France beat Belgium 4-1 on Monday night, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/match-coverage\/what-french-media-said-about-maxence-lacroix-after-chelsea-teammate-embarrassed-him\/\">French media do not think Lacroix had the best game<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-jules-kounde-could-play-under-xabi-alonso\">Where Jules Kounde could play under Xabi Alonso<\/h2>\n<p>In a back three, Kounde is probably best suited to the right-sided centre-back role. However, as someone who can also play as a right-back, it may be possible to play him at right wing-back.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/xabi-alonso\/\">Xabi Alonso<\/a> should not have to do that, though, if he does go on to get his hands on the France international. Chelsea already have several good options for that position.<\/p>\n<p>Pedro Neto, who has been doing a fine job there, Malo Gusto, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda and Reece James are all capable of playing at right wing-back.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/why-chelsea-are-keen-on-jules-kounde-again-as-defender-hands-barcelona-ultimatum\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0].appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'Why Chelsea are keen on Jules Kounde again as defender hands Barcelona ultimatum',content_category:'Transfer News',content_ids:[387137,\"jules-kounde\"],content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/why-chelsea-are-keen-on-jules-kounde-again-as-defender-hands-barcelona-ultimatum\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add to Preferred Sources Since BlueCo took over Chelsea, the club have not been able&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}