Three years after snubbing Chelsea for Barcelona, the Blues could finally sign Jules Kounde. The 26-year-old defender has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge on numerous occasions in the past - with captain Reece James often struggling to stay fit.

Kounde, who sees his contract at the Camp Nou expire in June 2027, has featured 24 times in La Liga this season, scoring two goals and providing three assists. Playing a key role in Hansi Flick's team, the France international has helped the Catalan outfit climb to the top of the table.

He also helped Barcelona to secure automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16 - starting each of their eight 'league phase' fixtures. Kounde's impressive performances haven't gone unnoticed, reportedly attracting interest from some top clubs.

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According to TBR Football, the Frenchman remains 'very high' on Chelsea's shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window. The report states that the Blues have been alerted to his situation at Barcelona after he was dropped to the bench at the weekend.

It's said that Kounde has fallen out with Flick, denting the Catalan outfit's hopes of extending his contract. When quizzed by reporters on the Chelsea target's shock omission, the Barcelona manager said: "Jules Kounde has been benched as it's an internal decision. It's football and these things happen."

TBR Football add that Liverpool and Manchester City also remain attentive to the versatile defender's situation. In July 2022, Kounde snubbed Chelsea to join Barcelona in a deal worth around £42m - due to the doubts over where he would fit into Thomas Tuchel's squad.

Speaking to official club media channels upon confirmation of the Frenchman's move, Monchi explained exactly why the Blues missed out. As quoted by Sky Sports, the former Sevilla sporting director said: "Chelsea kept us locked in talks for the past month and both us and the player reached a verbal agreement with them last Thursday.

"But at the very last moment, when everything seemed to be sealed and agreed, Chelsea had a few doubts on the movement that would have caused in their squad, and if the type of player that they needed was actually a profile like Jules Kounde or someone else.

"Talks stalled at the weekend, and even though they had put in a really good bid they'd preferred to wait, which is totally logical and normal. During this hard bargaining, [ex-Barcelona sporting director] Mateu Alemany manifested their interest for the first time on Monday."

Monchi, who's now the 'president of football operations' at Aston Villa, added: "We asked them to make a bid and their first one fell short of what we were expecting. But after working on it, also thanks to an important effort from Barcelona's side, we got to a very important figure which makes up the record sale in the club's history.

"Chelsea then returned to the table, but eventually we accepted Barcelona's bid because that was better than Chelsea's. Eventually, we sold the player to a club which he is happy to go to, while Sevilla were able to get the best possible terms."

Kounde has a €1billion (£839.6m) release clause in his contract at Barcelona, though Transfermarkt prices the defender at €60million (£49.7m). Not only could he partner Levi Colwill at centre-half, but he would also provide great cover for Reece James at right-back.