Chelsea transfer news: Blues 'alerted' to £45m defender as Xabi Alonso green lights January swoop

Chelsea person been alerted to Jules Kounde's imaginable availability up of the January transportation window, with Barcelona reportedly prepared to see the defender's future.

The France planetary is attracting involvement from respective Premier League clubs, portion Chelsea brag Xabi Alonso is understood to beryllium keen connected his versatility.

Kounde could reportedly beryllium disposable for arsenic small arsenic £45m, with the 27-year-old besides attracting involvement from Bayern Munich and clubs successful Saudi Arabia.

Xabi Alonso approves Chelsea determination for Jules Kounde

Chelsea are among the clubs monitoring Kounde's concern astatine Barcelona, with TEAMtalk revealing that the defender is keen connected a determination to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues came highly adjacent to signing Kounde successful 2022 earlier Barcelona won the contention for his signature, but their involvement has remained contempt missing retired connected the erstwhile Sevilla star.

Kounde has since established himself arsenic 1 of Europe's starring right-backs portion besides proving susceptible of operating astatine centre-back.

However, his concern astatine Barcelona has changed nether Hansi Flick. The Frenchman has started conscionable 1 LaLiga crippled this season, with Eric Garcia and Joao Cancelo often preferred.

Barcelona person reportedly indicated to Kounde's campy that they volition look to merchantability him successful 2027, portion a January departure is besides being discussed.

Alonso is understood to beryllium keen connected bringing Kounde to Chelsea, with his quality to screen aggregate positions peculiarly appealing.

Chelsea request large antiaircraft upgrades successful January

Kounde could lick respective problems for Chelsea astatine once, which makes their reported involvement understandable.

Centre-back remains arguably the biggest country requiring attention, having conceded much goals (12) than immoderate different squad truthful acold this season, and Kounde would springiness Alonso an experienced enactment who tin instantly fortify that position.

His versatility would besides beryllium invaluable astatine right-back, wherever Reece James' recurring fittingness problems person made consistency difficult. Chelsea are besides considering Malo Gusto's future, perchance creating different opening for Kounde.

Reports person placed Kounde's imaginable terms astir £45m, though Barcelona's eventual asking terms remains unclear and could beryllium higher fixed the level of interest.

For Chelsea, the accidental to motion a proven defender who tin screen 2 positions could marque Kounde an charismatic January target.

The biggest question volition beryllium whether Barcelona are genuinely prepared to authorisation a mid-season merchantability and whether Chelsea tin hold a interest that reflects the defender's worth without overpaying.