Chelsea has already given up on trying to sign key Barcelona defender | OneFootball

Chelsea’s interest in the transfer market for potential targets seems as fickle as the way they operate as a club. The Blues have had a shambolic last few seasons that has seen countless managerial changes and yet, this does not stop them from buying players.

We covered a story yesterday that the London-based club was interested in trying to sign Barcelona defender Jules Kounde as a new right-back with Reece James, their club captain, hardly managing to stay fit for a few seasons now.

Hours later, it has emerged, as per SPORT, that Chelsea have dropped their interest in the Frenchman as they no longer see the operation feasible. The English club has assumed that Kounde is not willing to join them in January.

The Blues have instead turned their attention to Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode as a potential reinforcement for the right-back role. The Serie A ace represents a cheaper and more affordable option for the club than Kounde.

In these first few months of the season, Kounde has emerged as one of Barcelona’s best and most important players under Hansi Flick. He has been brilliant at right-back, both offensively and defensively, and is untouchable at Barcelona.

For a player whose preference is not to play at right-back but at center-back, Kounde has developed incredibly in his new role. Apart from being solid defensively, he has added an attacking flair to his game and his crossing just keeps getting better.

Barcelona do not have a natural right-back in the squad and have gone into the season trusting Kounde to get the job done. Even for France, Didier Deschamps almost exclusively uses him in this position and he has adapted well to it.

Chelsea can cast their net elsewhere because Kounde is not for sale. He is an incredible and very valuable member of the Barcelona squad and that is how it will remain.