Sevilla president Jose Castro Carmona has clarified that they have yet to receive any bid for centre-back Jules Kounde but are open to offers, amid reported interest from Chelsea.
Earlier reports, including from Spanish outlet Diario AS, suggest that Chelsea and Sevilla have been in negotiations over Kounde’s possible transfer for some days now.
Chelsea are reportedly still looking to offload Kurt Zouma, who is very close to joining West Ham for £25million (The Guardian), to make space for Kounde’s potential arrival.
Sevilla chief Castro might have given Chelsea a reminder that while they are open to selling the defender, the time is running out.
“At the moment, Kounde is a Sevilla player,” the Sevilla president said (via Estadio Deportivo).
What we have done this year is to strengthen, we have signed six players.
“We want to have a strong team. We always study the offers that may come in.
“But the days are running out. At the moment there is nothing.”
Chronicle view
Considering Kounde has reportedly agreed a five-year deal with Chelsea on personal terms, the move still seems likely regardless of the timing of the deal.
Thomas Tuchel is not in desperate need for a new centre-back either, so Chelsea can wait for a vacant space in their 25-man Premier League squad before finalising the deal.
According to Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea and Sevilla agreed a transfer fee of €50m (£42.9m) plus add-ons for the France international, but sources from Spain have refuted this claim.