Chelsea forced into ‘huge’ Jules Kounde payout as deal agreed – pundit
Aston Villa’s signing of Diego Carlos will mean Chelsea have to pay Sevilla defender Jules Kounde’s £68million release clause, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Blues have been backed into a corner with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave the club at the end of their contracts.
Sevilla confirmed the departure of Diego Carlos to Aston Villa last week (26 May) – with Steven Gerrard’s side reportedly paying £26million for the Brazillian’s services.
According to Fabrizio Romano (26 May), Chelsea are not willing to give up on Kounde despite the Carlos sale – but Sevilla are reportedly holding out for the Frenchman’s full €80million (£68million) release clause.
Chelsea announced on Saturday (28 May) that they are “expecting” to close Todd Boehly’s £4.25billion purchase of the club on Monday (30 May) – allowing them to be active once again in the transfer market.
Whelan suggested the Blues must see Kounde as a “long-term replacement” for Rudiger and stump up the fee.
“The player is only as valuable as what the selling club are asking for,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“If you’re Sevilla, why wouldn’t you try and use that as a bargaining chip?
“If Chelsea don’t want to match the release clause, they keep the player. They’ve already lost one key defender after all.
“In this day and age, if you really want a player – as Chelsea do – you have to pay the release clause.
“He’s under contract, and there’s no rush to sell.
“If Chelsea are desperate – which we know they are – they’ve got to see this as a long-term replacement and a huge investment.”
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