After an intensive transfer story last summer in which it appeared for all the world that Kounde would be joining Chelsea from Sevilla, Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti reports that Kounde is open to leaving Barcelona just one season after joining them.
In a spectacular turn of events, Kounde eventually signed with the Catalans in late July, and the Frenchman has had a terrific time at Camp Nou, making 38 appearances across all competitions and winning the La Liga title, playing the most of his games at right-back.
Kounde is unhappy playing as a fullback rather than his preferred position of center-back, according to Juanmarti, who also claims that the Frenchman’s desire to leave Barca is motivated by this. Barca manager Xavi is reported to be aware of the Frenchman’s concerns.
Now that the Blues have an elite, high-potential level core of central defenders in the form of Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, and Levi Colwill—who is anticipated to play a significant role in the Chelsea squad next season—it makes much less sense to say that they “will go” after Kounde this summer than it did ten months ago.
It’s quite doubtful that Chelsea will pursue Kounde again because they will be concentrating their attention before the upcoming season on more crucial positions, such as a defensive midfielder and striker, and they won’t have forgotten that he rejected them last summer in favour of sticking in Spain.