Sevilla sources have denied any recent contact with Barcelona over a potential deal for Jules Kounde despite rumours and the club are waiting for Chelsea to send documentation, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Telegraph reported on Friday that Chelsea look to have beaten off competition from Barcelona to sign the 23-year-old centre-back.
The Blues have reportedly agreed to pay Sevilla £55million and have offered Kounde a five-year contract.
Reports in Spain, including from Diario AS, however, suggested that the transfer race is not yet close to reaching a conclusion since Barcelona refused to give up on the pursuit of their priority target.
The situation became more confusing after Jijantes FC’s Gerard Romero made a rather bold claim that Barcelona and Sevilla have reached a verbal agreement over the France international.
“The operation is 99 percent done,” Romero added on Twitter.
Mundo Deportivo apparently tried to verify the claim to their Sevilla sources, who insisted there was “zero contact” between the club and Barcelona, instead.
The report added that Sevilla have not changed their stance; they are waiting for either Chelsea to send all the documentation or Barcelona to make a concrete move.
Kounde’s keeping alive the hope for a move to Camp Nou has reportedly delayed the potential transfer to Chelsea, but Sevilla have already agreed fees with Chelsea.
The reported five-year contract agreement between the player and Chelsea, however, suggests that he is also open to moving to Stamford Bridge.
Update: Marca also claims that Sevilla sources they contacted said that Barcelona have neither made any offer nor expressed their intention to reactivate their interest in Kounde.
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