Chelsea appear as a potential destination for struggling Barcelona defender

Chelsea appear as a potential destination for struggling Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is going through the toughest season of his career since he joined Barcelona in 2022. The defender has found himself down the pecking order and is no longer a guaranteed starter, with Hansi Flick opting for Eric Garcia and Xavi Espart in the right-back position. Injuries haven’t helped either, with the Frenchman missing in action the last few weeks owing to an ankle injury. His lack of game-time, coupled with his slow progress, has led to question marks over his future. Chelsea emerge as a potential suitor Kounde is no longer a starter at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) As reported by Mundo Deportivo , Chelsea have emerged as a potential destination for Kounde, roughly four years after missing out on the Frenchman. The Blues were indeed one of the main candidates to sign Kounde from Sevilla in 2022, but the defender opted for a move to Barcelona, rejecting Chelsea in the process. But in the wake of Malo Gusto’s uncertain future at the club, coach Xabi Alonso might look to bring in a new defender in the upcoming January transfer window. One of the options is Kounde, who brings extensive experience at the highest level of football and is versatile enough to operate in a central defensive role – his primary position. Will Kounde leave Barcelona? Xabi Alonso is keen on bringing in a new defender in January. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Kounde has appeared quite reluctant in leaving Barcelona, as he was closely linked with an exit in the summer transfer window as well. It seems the former Sevilla star wants to prove himself under Flick . But three months into the new season, he has barely made any progress and is comfortably behind many of the Barcelona stars in the pecking order. The possibility of a Chelsea switch in January, therefore, could be hard to ignore. Barcelona, for their part, might be open to selling the Frenchman as well in order to bring in fresh funds. The Catalans, after all, are in dire need of a new central defender, and Kounde’s exit, to that end, could go a long way in helping them fund that move. Interestingly, Barcelona have been linked with a move for Chelsea’s Levi Colwill , though Alonso is unlikely to entertain any offers for the Englishman.