Chelsea looked to have battled Barcelona to land the sensational signing of Jules Kounde just days ago, but now it looks like they will miss out. Barcelona have been the disaster of the Blues’ summer transfer window and have struck again late to sign the highly-rated Sevilla defender.
Reports claim Chelsea were in advanced talks over a £55million deal for Kounde as Barcelona’s financial constraints looked set to force them out of the running. But the Barca told the 23-year-old to wait for him to raise funds before launching a pursuit, and they stepped up their interest over the weekend.
A deal is now thought to be close, and they could even end up paying less than Chelsea were willing to do, with Kounde favoring a dream move to the Camp Nou. So what next for Thomas Tuchel? Well, despite recruiting Kalidou Koulibaly and targeting a third centre-back after Kounde, he already has an option in his ranks ready for a chance to shine.
Levi Colwill thrived on loan at Huddersfield Town in the Championship last season, helping the Terriers reach the play-off final. And the 19-year-old has caught the eye so far in pre-season, leading some to suggest that Tuchel could save millions if they were to land him.
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Mason Mount is one of those impressed, with the midfielder praising Colwill for taking a similar development path to his own heading into the Championship on loan from Chelsea’s academy. He has praised the left centre-back for how much he has grown in West Yorkshire.
Mount said: “You can see with Levi the valuable experience he’s gained from giving in. That’s something I experienced, and for me, watching him train with us before he went out, I could obviously tell he was very good player but i needed this experience.
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“Going to play in the Championship and getting into a Play-Off final like I did, it’s a valuable experience that helps you a lot, a lot. I think he’s learned a lot from it. He’s grown as a player.” “I’ve grown as a person, and now I definitely feel like he can make us better and make our team better. He’s going to have a chance to really step up and he’s got to keep working hard and keep working hard in practice.”
Tuchel’s original plans to acquire three centre-backs in the transfer market suggest he did not see Colwill in his plans this term. But the impression the star has made in pre-season may have caused a change of heart and could make the Kounde fiasco easier to swallow.